RESULTS Weight loss was associated with a decline in CRP level .
Our results suggest that weight loss may be an effective nonpharmacologic strategy for lowering CRP level
BACKGROUND Several studies suggest that weight loss reduces C-reactive protein ( CRP ) level ; however , the consistency and magnitude of this effect has not been well characterized .
Our objective was to test the hypothesis that weight loss is directly related to a decline in CRP level .
Effects of exercise training on 5 inflammatory markers associated with cardiovascular risk.
BACKGROUND Cross-sectional studies suggest that regular exercise has anti-inflammatory effects , leading to lower levels of several proatherogenic inflammatory markers . However , this has yet to be confirmed by r and omized prospect i ve trials . We performed a r and omized controlled trial to assess whether exercise training decreases levels of 5 inflammatory markers linked to future cardiovascular risk : white blood cell count , fibrinogen , C-reactive protein , soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 , and soluble CD40 lig and . METHODS One hundred fifty-two healthy female smokers were r and omized to either 12 weeks of exercise training or health education as part of a smoking cessation program . Smoking was held steady for the first 6 weeks , and thereafter , smoking cessation was actively attempted . One hundred four participants completed 6 weeks , and 88 completed 12 weeks . Fitness and circulating inflammatory marker levels were measured at baseline , 6 weeks , and 12 weeks . To avoid potential confounding from changes in smoking exposure during the second 6 weeks of the trial , the primary end point was change in inflammatory marker levels from baseline to 6 weeks . Change in inflammatory markers from baseline to 12 weeks was a secondary end point . RESULTS At baseline , greater physical fitness was associated with lower white blood cell , fibrinogen , and C-reactive protein levels , but these associations were not statistically significant after adjusting for body mass index ( P > .1 for all ) . Fitness improved significantly in the exercise group at both 6 and 12 weeks . However , there were no differences in levels of any inflammatory marker between the exercise and control groups at either 6 weeks ( primary end point ) or 12 weeks ( secondary end point ) ( P > .05 for all comparisons ) . CONCLUSION In female smokers , baseline associations between fitness and inflammatory markers were largely attributable to differences in body fat ; regular exercise did not reduce levels of any of the inflammatory markers studied despite a significant improvement in fitness at both 6 and 12 weeks
RESULTS Weight loss was associated with a decline in CRP level .
Our results suggest that weight loss may be an effective nonpharmacologic strategy for lowering CRP level
BACKGROUND Several studies suggest that weight loss reduces C-reactive protein ( CRP ) level ; however , the consistency and magnitude of this effect has not been well characterized .
Our objective was to test the hypothesis that weight loss is directly related to a decline in CRP level .