APOE genotype and gender, but not exercise, influence CRP levels

18 August 2008

MedWire News: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and gender, but not exercise training status, influence levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP), report investigators in the journal Metabolism; Clinical and Experimental.

"Recent evidence suggests that inflammation contributes to the atherosclerotic process and that markers of inflammation including CRP are also risk markers for future atherosclerotic events," comment Theodore Angelopoulos (University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA) and team.

They add that "increased frequency of physical activity and higher aerobic fitness are associated with lower CRP concentrations," suggesting that regular exercise could reduce the systemic inflammatory response and therefore potentially postpone development of atherosclerosis.

APOE genotype is another factor that is thought influence CRP levels, with a few previous studies showing some genotypes are associated with higher levels of CRP than others.

Angelopoulos and colleagues assessed the effect of APOE genotype and exercise training status on CRP level in 71 healthy individuals, aged 37.4 years on average, who volunteered for a 6-month aerobic exercise program (40 min, 4 times a week).

Following genotyping the researchers found there was an approximately equal distribution between the APOE genotypes 2/3, 3/3, and 3/4. They observed that CRP level at baseline did differ by genotype, with average levels of 2.84, 2.59, and 1.90 mg/l for the genotypes 2/3, 3/3, and 3/4, respectively.

In addition, women had significantly higher CRP levels than men, at 3.14 mg/l versus 2.12 mg/l, respectively.

However, participants' CRP levels did not change significantly from baseline after 6 months of exercise training.

Metabolism 2008; 57: 1204-1210