The Effects of Physical Activity on Serum C-Reactive Protein and Inflammatory Markers

Abstract

Physical activity is associated with a reduced incidence of coronary disease, but the mechanisms mediating this effect are not defined. There has been considerable recent interest in inflammation in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Some of the beneficial role of physical activity may result from its effects on the inflammatory process. We searched PubMed for articles published between 1975 through May 2004 using the terms exercise, physical activity, or physical fitness combined with C-reactive protein, inflammation, inflammatory markers, or cytokines. The review revealed 19 articles on the acute inflammatory response to exercise, 18 on cross-sectional comparisons of subjects by activity levels, and 5 examining prospectively the effects of exercise training on the inflammatory process. Exercise produces a short-term, inflammatory response, whereas both cross-sectional comparisons and longitudinal exercise training studies demonstrate a long-term "anti-inflammatory" effect. This anti-inflammatory response may contribute to the beneficial effects of habitual physical activity.

2012 HRS/EHRA/ECAS Expert Consensus Statement on Catheter and Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Recommendations for Patient Selection, Procedural Techniques, Patient Management and Follow-up, Definitions, Endpoints, and Research Trial Design

“…Long-term endurance training, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, 358 increase chronic systemic inflammation, 359 which in turn could also facilitate AF. 360 Studies show that moderate physical activity might reduce inflammatory markers.…”

Epigenetics, aging, and autoimmunity

“…Of interest, it has been shown that activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B), a transcription factor that controls many proinflammatory genes, increases with aging (15,16). Interestingly, participation in regular physical activity lowers CRP, and IL-6 levels (17,18). Importantly, chronic systemic inflammation is related to several aging-related diseases, including coronary heart disease and stroke, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, and several autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, RA, and Sjogren's syndrome.…”

Fibrinolytic Activity of Blood and its Determinants in Healthy Medical Students

“…A positive correlation between physical activity level of an individual and fibrinolysis time was reported in the literature [22,23]. The beneficial effect of regular physical activity is due to improvements in endothelial functions, endothelial progenitor cell activation and mobilization along with activity dependent release of muscle derived cytokines or leptins [24].…”