ARTICOLI ORIGINALI   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2014 May;173(5):241-9

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein are inversely associated with maximal oxygen uptake in healthy physically active young men

Dudzińska W. ¹, Lubkowska A. ², Janiak M. ¹

¹ Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland; ² Department of Functional Diagnostics and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland

AIM: One of the main effects of regular physical activity is not only the suppression of systemic low-grade inflammation, but also an increase in physical capacity. As the concentration of inflammatory markers, as well as VO2max, are influenced by regular physical activity, it is likely that a correlation exists between physical capacity and inflammation. Hence the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between basal levels of IL-6, CRP, TNF-α, adiponectin and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in young healthy and physically active men.
METHODS: Forty healthy young males participated in this. Exercise capacity was measured directly using maximal oxygen uptake during a maximal effort test with increasing intensity. Plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-α and adiponectin were measured by specific ELISA method. CRP was determined nephelometrically. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between VO2max and the basal levels of IL-6 and CRP, but not with TNF-α or adiponectin.
RESULTS: Our results suggest a possible link between the levels of inflammatory markers and physical capacity.
CONCLUSION: We showed that among the examined inflammatory markers only basal levels of CRP and IL-6 are inversely associated with VO2max in young healthy and physically active men. So it seems that IL-6 and CRP levels may be indicators of physical capacity and exercise tolerance.