Effects of exercise on c-reactive protein in healthy patients and in patients with heart disease: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Decreases in circulating hsCRP have been associated with increased physical activity and exercise training, although the ability of exercise interventions to reduce hsCRP and which individuals benefit the most remains unclear. This meta-analysis evaluates the ability of exercise to reduce hsCRP levels in healthy individuals and in individuals with heart disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted that included exercise interventions trials from 1995 to 2012. Forty-three studies were included in the final analysis for a total of 3575 participants. Exercise interventions significantly reduced hsCRP (standardized mean difference −0.53 mg/L; 95% CI, −0.74 to −0.33). Results of sub-analysis revealed no significant difference in reductions in hsCRP between healthy adults and those with heart disease (p = .20). Heterogeneity between studies could not be attributed to age, gender, intervention length, intervention type, or inclusion of diet modification. Exercise interventions reduced hsCRP levels in adults irrespective of the presence of heart disease.

Intradialytic Cardiovascular Exercise Training Alters Redox Status, Reduces Inflammation and Improves Physical Performance in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

“…In contrast to a previous report where CRP levels remained unaltered in response to a 4-month intradialytic exercise training intervention (cycling) [32], we observed a 15% reduction in hs-CRP in TR, in response to 6 months of exercise training. In fact, engaging in long-term cardiovascular exercise training, particularly of moderate intensity [60], is associated with a reduction in serum CRP levels both in healthy [61] and clinical populations [62,63], and is usually associated with reductions in body fat [61]. Accordingly, the reduction in hs-CRP levels observed in TR was accompanied by a 2% reduction in body fat percentage.…”

Modifiable lifestyle risk factors and C-reactive protein in patients with coronary artery disease: Implications for an anti-inflammatory treatment target population

“…14,15 Interventional studies reveal a more complex picture, as there is uncertainty whether changes in CRP after PA interventions are down to changes in body weight or body fat alone. 31,32 However, two recent meta-analyses of interventional studies found a significant reduction in CRP through exercise, 17,18 the first both in healthy adults and those with heart disease, the second observing the largest decreases in CRP when accompanied by changes in body weight or body fat. In our results, the association between PA and hsCRP is attenuated in the multivariable regression analysis compared to the univariable results, whilst the association of BMI with hsCRP remains largely unaltered.…”

“…7,8 However, CRP is influenced by many factors, and both observational studies as well as interventional studies have shown a significant impact of modifiable lifestyle risk factors (modRF) for CAD on CRP levels. This concerns smoking, [9][10][11][12][13] lack of physical activity (PA), [14][15][16][17][18] poor diet (e.g. failure to adhere to a Mediterranean diet), 19,20 and overweight.…”

Elevated Inflammatory Status and Increased Risk of Chronic Disease in Chronological Aging: Inflamm-aging or Inflamm-inactivity?

“…Although it seems counter-intuitive, there is an exercise training-induced anti-inflammatory effect, observed in both younger and older subjects [5-8]. There is some disagreement in the literature, yet an increasing volume of evidence points to the ability of regular, planned exercise, or a high level of physical activity, to reduce the inflammatory burden [9-11]. Gleeson et al .…”