Physical inactivity seems to have greater inflammatory consequences for men than women with impaired glucose tolerance. - GreenMedInfo Summary
C-Reactive Protein Concentrations and Level of Physical Activity in Men and Women With Normal and Impaired Glucose Tolerance. A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study in Sweden.
J Phys Act Health. 2015 Dec 21. Epub 2015 Dec 21. PMID: 26694073
Margareta I Hellgren
BACKGROUND: We aimed to explore the association between self-reported leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and C-reactive protein concentrations (CRP) in men and women with and without impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).
METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, a random sample (n=2816) was examined with an oral glucose tolerance test, CRP and information about LTPA. Those with IGT or normal glucose tolerance and CRP value≤10 mg/L were selected (n = 2367) for the study.
RESULTS: An inverse association between LTPA and CRP concentrations was observed in the population (P<0.001), though, only in men with IGT (P=0.023) and in women with normal glucose tolerance. Men with IGT, reporting slight physical activity up to four hours a week presented significantly higher CRP concentrations than normoglycemic men (Δ0.6 mg/L, P = 0.004). However, this difference could not be found in men with IGT reporting more intense physical activity (Δ0.01 mg/L, P = 0.944).
CONCLUSIONS: Physical inactivity seems to have greater inflammatory consequences for men (vs. women) with IGT. More importantly, although four hours of physical activity per week is more than the usual minimum recommendation, an even greater intensity of LTPA appears to be required to limit subclinical inflammation in men with IGT.