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Plasma levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein are associated with physical inactivity independent of obesity
Abstract
It is recognized that the path from physical inactivity and obesity to lifestyle-related diseases involves low-grade inflammation, indicated by elevated plasma levels of inflammatory markers. Interestingly, contracting skeletal muscle is a major source of circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to acute exercise, but with a markedly lower response in trained subjects. As C-reactive protein (CRP) is induced by IL-6, we hypothesized that basal levels of IL-6 and CRP reflect the degree of regular physical activity when compared with other markers of inflammation associated with lifestyle-related morbidity. Fasting plasma/serum levels of IL-6, IL-18, CRP, tumur necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), soluble TNF receptor II (sTNF-RII), and adiponectin were measured in healthy non-diabetic men and women (n=84). The amount of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) was assessed by interview. Obesity was associated with elevated insulin, C-peptide, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, IL-6, CRP, and adiponectin (all P<0.05). Importantly, physical inactivity was associated with elevated C-peptide (P=0.036), IL-6 (P=0.014), and CRP (P=0.007) independent of obesity, age, gender, and smoking. Furthermore, the LTPA score was inversely associated with IL-6 (P=0.017) and CRP (P=0.005), but with neither of the other markers. The results indicate that low levels of IL-6 and CRP - not IL-18, TNF-alpha, sTNF-RII, or adiponectin - reflect regular physical activity.
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“Given this condition, the hypothesis that has been proposed is that the regular practice of physical exercise, organized in a exercise training program (chronic effect), exerts an anti-inflammatory effect induced by the sessions (acute effect), which leads to improved protection against chronic inflammatory situations, levels of proinflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein (Petersen and Peders”
From Physical Exercise-Induced Myokines and Muscle-Adipose Tissue Crosstalk: A Review of Current Knowledge and the Implications for Health and Metabolic Diseases (2018) · cites this paper as Fischer, 2006
In the citing paper
“In general, this anti-inflammatory effect has been shown to be more evident in some pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis, type II diabetes, obesity and heart failure (HF), especially those presenting a two- to three-fold systemic increase in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein (Fischer et al., 2007).”
From Physical Exercise-Induced Myokines and Muscle-Adipose Tissue Crosstalk: A Review of Current Knowledge and the Implications for Health and Metabolic Diseases (2018) · cites this paper as Fischer et al., 2007
In the citing paper
“In these disease conditions, the origin of this systemic alteration is not well characterized, however, it has been proposed that WAT and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (especially lymphocytes) may be the main source of these cytokines (Steensberg et al., 2003; Fischer, 2006; Pedersen and Fischer, 2007).”
From Physical Exercise-Induced Myokines and Muscle-Adipose Tissue Crosstalk: A Review of Current Knowledge and the Implications for Health and Metabolic Diseases (2018) · cites this paper as Fischer, 2006
In the citing paper
“Cross-sectional studies demonstrate an association between physical inactivity and low-grade systemic inflammation in healthy subjects [71–75], in elderly people [76, 77], and in patients with intermittent claudication [78].”
From Exercise as a Mean to Control Low‐Grade Systemic Inflammation (2008) · cites this paper as [71]
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Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Fischer, C. P., Berntsen, A., Perstrup, L. B., Eskildsen, P., & Pedersen, B. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Roskilde Sygehus (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Fischer, C. P.
- Venue
- Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-12-20
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 580-587
- ISSN
- 0905-7188 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0838
- OpenAlex
- W2154604035
- Cited by
- 230
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 6.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
- Keywords
- interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, physical inactivity, leisure-time physical activity, obesity, low-grade inflammation, inflammatory markers, IL-18, TNF-α, soluble TNF receptor 2, adiponectin, C-peptide, insulin, lifestyle-related diseases
- MeSH terms
- C-Reactive Protein, Female, Health Status, Humans, Interleukins, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Muscle Contraction, Obesity, Pilot Projects, Biomarkers, Interleukin-6, Body Mass Index, Cytokines, Adiponectin
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