['To investigate the effect of a yearlong moderate-intensity aerobic exercise intervention on C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) among overweight or obese postmenopausal women.', 'In a randomized controlled trial, 115 postmenopausal, overweight or obese, sedentary women, aged 50-75 yr were randomized to an aerobic exercise intervention of moderate-intensity (60%-75% observed maximal HR), for > or = 45 min x d(-1), 5 d x wk (n = 53), or to a 1-d x wk(-1) stretching control (n = 62), on an intent-to-treat basis. CRP, SAA, and IL-6 were measured at baseline, at 3 months, and at 12 months.', 'From baseline to 12 months, CRP decreased 10% in exercisers and increased 12% in controls (P = 0.01); no effects were observed for SAA and IL-6. Among participants at baseline who were obese (body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 kg x m(-2)) or had abdominal obesity (waist circumference (WC) > or = 88 cm), exercise resulted in a more pronounced reduction in CRP (BMI > or = 30 kg x m(-2), P = 0.002; WC > or = 88 cm, P < 0.0001), borderline for SAA (BMI > or = 30 kg x m(-2), P = 0.08; WC > or = 88 cm, P = 0.04); no intervention effects were observed among women who did not have these characteristics. Overall, weight loss was minimal in the exercise intervention ( approximately 1.8 kg). Linear trends were observed between CRP and 12-month changes in aerobic fitness (Ptrend = 0.006), exercise adherence (Ptrend = 0.004), percentage body fat (Ptrend = 0.002), body weight (Ptrend = 0.002), WC (Ptrend = 0.02), and intra-abdominal fat (Ptrend = 0.03).'] Does a yearlong exercise intervention decrease CRP among obese postmenopausal women?