Association between Cardiovascular Fitness and Inflammatory Markers in Boys Aged 11-14 Years

Objective: it is reported that some inflammatory markers are predictive factors for atherosclerosis in childhood and adolescence and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. we investigated whether markers of inflammation including: cytokine [interleukin-6 (il-6)], acute-phase reactant [c-reactive protein (crp)], white blood cell (wbc) count and its subgroups are associated with maximal oxygen consumption (vo2max) in overweight and normal children.methods: subjects were 26 boys aged 11-14 years included in two groups of overweight (n=10) and normal weight (n=16) children. vo2max was measured employing an incremental graded exercise test. il-6 and crp levels as well as wbc count were measured. multivariable regression was employed to evaluate whether inflammatory markers were associated with vo2max. findings: mean vo2max for all subjects (n=26) was 36.35±10.42 ml/kg/min. this rate was lesser for overweight subjects (25.77±5.04) than in normal weight children (41.54±5.96). log il-6, log crp, and wbc count were correlated with vo2max. also subgroups of wbc including leukocytes, lymphocyte, neutrophils, monocytes and eosinophils associated with vo2max.conclusion: il-6, crp and wbcs were inversely associated with aerobic or cardiorespiratory fitness levels measured by vo2max in children. this was independent of bmi of the subjects.