Original Article

International Journal of Obesity (2006) 30, 141–146. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803068; published online 13 September 2005

Atherogenic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in relation to overweight values in male former athletes

E Pihl1,2, K Zilmer1, T Kullisaar1, C Kairane1, A Mägi3 and M Zilmer1

  1. 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
  2. 2Institute of Exercise Biology and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
  3. 3Department of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

Correspondence: Dr E Pihl, Institute of Exercise Biology and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Jakobi 5, Tartu 51014, Estonia. E-mail: epihl@ut.ee

Received 16 September 2004; Revised 25 May 2005; Accepted 12 June 2005; Published online 13 September 2005.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

To evaluate inflammation- and oxidative stress-related (OxS) background in former athletes in relation to overweight and abdominal obesity status.

Design:

 

Cross-sectional data from ongoing follow-up study.

Subjects:

 

A total of 60 middle-aged former athletes (46.6plusminus7.5 years; 181.1plusminus7.2 cm; 88.1plusminus12.9 kg) and 54 age-matched controls (48.1plusminus7.3 years; 181.4plusminus6.2 cm; 89.7plusminus14.4 kg).

Measurements:

 

Anthropometric characteristics, serum lipoproteins (CHOL, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG), oxidized LDL (oxLDL), diene conjugates (DC) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Information about the physical activity and other lifestyle variables were collected by the questionnaire.

Results:

 

Ex-athletes were characterized by significantly higher physical activity characteristics and lower CHOL and oxLDL in comparison with controls. Correlation analysis among ex-athletes revealed negative associations between all measured overweight data (body mass index, fat percentage, waist to hip circumferences and waist circumference (WC)), and current physical activity. Current physical activity was significantly related to OxS and inflammatory characteristics (oxLDL, DC and hsCRP) among the ex-athletes, but not among the control group. The most expressed positive correlations were found between WC, hsCRP, triglycerides (TG), DC and oxLDL in both study groups.

Conclusion:

 

Our study results suggest that there exists an independent (adjusted for potential confounders) association between overweight, abdominal obesity, and atherogenic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in ex-athletes as well as in age-matched controls. Major findings of our study show that WC is the best correlate of hsCRP, oxLDL, DC and TG levels.

Keywords:

oxidized LDL, hsCRP, physical activity, overweight, waist circumference

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