Baseline and Post-exercise High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels in Endurance Cyclists: The Indonesian North Coast and Tour de Borobudur 2017 Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays an important role in the atherosclerotic process. High-sensitivity C-reactive-protein (hs-CRP) is commonly used as inflammatory biomarker. It is well known that regular physical activity lowers hs-CRP levels, while prolonged exercise induces hs-CRP elevations. However, the relationship of training and exercise characteristics with hs-CRP levels remains not well elucidated. We evaluated baseline and post-exercise hs-CRP levels and its association with training and exercise characteristics.METHODS: Eighty-eight male endurance cyclists were involved. Demographic data, health condition and training characteristics were collected. Baseline and postexercise blood-samples were collected to determine hsCRP concentrations. A hs-CRP cut-off point of 3 mg/L was used. Blood-cell count and biochemical parameters were measured at baseline. Heart rate (HR) was measured during exercise.RESULTS: Cyclists performed 7.3 hours (interquartilerange (IQR) = 5.4-7.5) of endurance exercise at intensity of 81.8 % (IQR = 74.9-85.8). Cyclists with baseline hsCRP ≥ 3 mg/L reported higher body mass, body mass index (BMI), waist-circumference and total-cholesterol. An increase in hs-CRP was following endurance exercise. Cyclists with any elevation of hs-CRP reported a higher BMI, HR during exercise and exercise intensity. Binary logistic regression analysis showed BMI (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.04-1.48) and cycling distance (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.06-0.76) were associated with post-exercise hs-CRP elevations.CONCLUSION: Body mass, BMI, waist-circumference, total- and HDL-cholesterol are associated with baseline hsCRP, whereas BMI and cycling distance were associated with hs-CRP elevations. These findings suggest that anthropometry parameters and lipid levels attributed to baseline hs-CRP, while anthropometry parameters and cycling intensity attributed to post-exercise hs-CRP elevations.KEYWORDS: C-reactive-protein, exercise, endurancecycling, inflammation, acute-phase-response

Cardiac Troponin Elevation After Long-Distance Cycling is Associated with Oxidative Stress and Exercise Intensity: An Observational Study

“…We involved male cyclists who were registered to participate in long-distance cycling tours conducted in Indonesia: the 2017 North Coast tour and the 2017 Tour de Borobudur, as described in our previous reports (17,18). All cyclists had received the invitation to join in this research via a web-based announcement or traditional brochures.…”

“…TdB cyclists consist of two groups: the first group (TdB 140 K) rode 140 km, with an elevation of 2,754 m, in drizzling and rainy weather, the average temperature during riding was 26°C (21°C -37°C); the second group (TdB 100 K) rode 100 km in a sunny day, and the average temperature was 30°C (28°C -34°C). Details of the recruitment are described in a figure as published elsewhere (17,18).…”

“…Before, during, and after the cycling tours, measurements were conducted as described elsewhere (17,18), including measurement of the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) (19). Blood specimens were taken before and immediately after cycling and then analyzed in the laboratory.…”

“…This study is a continuation of the effort to elucidate the mechanism of cTn elevation after prolonged exercise. In our previous work, we reported a significant elevation of high sensitivity C-reactive protein after long-distance cycling (17) as well as cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I) elevation (18).…”

Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein among apparently healthy adults with concomitant prediabetes and latent tuberculosis infection in Nigeria

“…9 However, intense physical exercise has been noted to cause variations in CRP level. [10][11][12] C-reactive protein has historically been measured in the clinical laboratory for the detection and monitoring of inapparent inflammation and infection, using immunoturbidimetric and immunonephelometric techniques. However, standard CRP assays lack the sensitivity required to determine accurately low levels of early inflammation.…”