Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

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

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 141–146 (2006)Cite this article

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 (46.6±7.5 years; 181.1±7.2 cm; 88.1±12.9 kg) and 54 age-matched controls (48.1±7.3 years; 181.4±6.2 cm; 89.7±14.4 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.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Karvonen MJ, Klemola H, Virkajärvi J, Kekkonen A . Longevity of endurance skiers. Med Sci Sports 1974; 6: 49–51.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Van Saase IL, Noteboom WM, Vanderbrouke JP . Longevity of men capable of prolonged vigorous physical exercise: a 32 years follow-up of 2259 participants in the Dutch eleven cities ice skating tour. BMJ 1990; 301: 1409–1411.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Sarna S, Sahi T, Koskenvuo M, Kaprio J . Increased life expectancy of world class male athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1993; 25: 237–244.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kujala UM, Kaprio J, Taimela S, Sarna S . Prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and ishemic disease in former elite athletes. Metab Clin Exp 1994; 43: 1255–1260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Koenig W, Sund M, Frolich M, Fisher HG, Löwel H, Döring A et al. C-reactive protein, a sensitive marker of inflammation, predicts future risk of coronary heart disease in initially healthy middle-aged men: results from the MONICA (monitoring trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease) Ausburg cohort study, 1984–1992. Circulation 1999; 99: 237–242.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Frostegård J . Autoimmunity, oxidized LDL and cardiovascular disease. Autoimmun Rev 2002; 1: 233–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kuulasmaa K, Tundstall-Pedoe H, Dobson A, Fortman S, Sans S, Tolonen H et al. Estimation of contribution of changes in classic risk factors to trends coronary-events rates across the WHO MONICA Project populations. Lancet 2000; 355: 675–687.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. McKenchnie RS, Rubenfire M, Abor A . The role of inflammation and infection in coronary artery disease: a clinical perspective. ACC Curr J Rev 2002; 11: 32–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kostka T, Drai J, Berthouze SE, Lacour J-R, Bonnefoy M . Physical activity, aerobic capacity and selected markers of oxidative stress and the anti-oxidant defence system in healthy active elderly men. Clin Physiol 2000; 30: 185–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kujala UM, Ahotupa M, Vasankari T, Kaprio J, Tikkanen MJ . Low LDL oxidation in veteran endurance athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sports 1996; 6: 303–308.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Pihl E, Zilmer K, Kullisaar T, Kairane C, Pulges A, Zilmer M . High-sensitive C-reactive protein level and oxidative stress-related status in former athletes in relation to traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Atherosclerosis 2003; 171: 321–326.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hubert HB, Feinleib M, McNamura PM, Castelli WP . Obesity as independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease: a 16-year follow-up of participants of Framingham Study. Circulation 1983; 67: 968–977.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Foucan L, Hanley J, Deloumeaux J, Suissa S . Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) as screening tools for cardiovascular risk factors in Guadeloupean women. J Clin Epidemiol 2002; 55: 990–996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Gus M, Fuchs SC, Moreira LB . Association between different measurements of obesity and the incidence of hypertension. Am J Hypertens 2004; 17: 50–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Keaney JF, Larson Jr MG, Vasan RS, Wilson PW, Lipinska I, Corey D et al. Obesity and systemic oxidative stress. Clinical correlates of oxidative stress in the Framingham study. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2003; 23: 434–439.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fenster CP, Weinsier RL, Darley-Usmar VM, Patel RP . Obesity, aerobic exercise, and vascular disease: the role of oxidant stress. Obes Res 2002; 10: 964–968.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Fogelholm M, Kaprio J, Sarna S . Healthy lifestyles of former Finnish world class athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1994; 26: 224–229.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pihl E, Jürimäe T . Relationships between body weight change and cardiovascular disease risk factors in male former athletes. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001; 25: 1057–1062.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sarna S, Kaprio J, Kujala UM . Health status of former finnish elite athletes. In: Viitasalo J, Kujala U (eds) The Way to Win, International Congress on Applied Research in Sports. Finnish Society for Research in Sport and Physical Education, Helsinki, 1994. pp 23–31.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Leon AS, Jacobs Jr DR, Montoye HJ, Sallis JF et al. Compendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1993; 25: 71–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Baun WP, Baun MR, Raves PB . A nomogram for the estimate of percent body fat from generalized equations. Res Quart 1981; 52: 382–386.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ristimäe T, Zilmer M, Zilmer K, Kairane C, Kullisaar T, Teesalu R . Effects of low-dose aspirin on the markers of oxidative stress. Cardiovasc Drug Ther 1999; 13: 485–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Annuk M, Fellstrom B, Akerblom O, Zilmer K, Vihalemm T, Zilmer M . Oxidative stress markers in pre-uremic patients. Clin Nephrol 2001; 56: 308–314.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Berliner JA, Navab M, Fogelman AM, Frank JS, Demer LL, Edwards PA et al. Atherosclerosis: basic mechanisms: oxidation, inflammation, and genetics. Circulation 1995; 91: 2488–2496.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lavie CJ, Milani RV . Obesity and cardiovascular disease: the Hippocrates paradox? J Am Coll Cardiol 2003; 42: 677–679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Hokanson JE, Austin MA . Plasma triglyceride is a factor for cardiovascular disease independent of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a meta-analysis of population-based prospective studies. J Cardiovasc Risk 1996; 3: 213–219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. LaMonte MJ, Ainsworth BE, Dubose KD, Grandjean PW, Davis PG, Yanowitz FG et al. The hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype among women. Atherosclerosis 2003; 171: 123–130.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Van Gaal LF, Vertommen J, De Leeuw IH . The in vitro oxidizability of lipoprotein particles in obese and non-obese subjects. Atherosclerosis 1998; 137: S39–S44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Perticone F, Ceravolo R, Candigliota M, Ventura G, Iacopino S, Sinopoli F et al. Obesity and body fat distribution induce endothelial dysfunction by oxidative stress: protective effect of vitamin C. Diabetes 2001; 50: 159–165.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ridker PM . Clinical application of C-reactive protein for cardiovascular disease detection and prevention. Circulation 2003; 107: 363–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Hak AE, Stehouwer CDA, Bots ML, Polderman KH, Schalkwijk CG, Westendorp IC et al. Associations of C-reactive protein with measures of obesity, insulin resistance, and subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy, middle-aged women. Atheroscler Thromb Vasc Biol 1999; 19: 1986–1991.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Visser M, Bouter LM, McQuillan GM, Wener MH, Harris TB . Elevated C-reactive protein levels in overweight and obese adults. JAMA 1999; 282: 2131–2135.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Estonian Ministry of Education target-financed theme no. 1833 and no. 5496 of the Estonian Science Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    E Pihl, K Zilmer, T Kullisaar, C Kairane & M Zilmer

  2. Institute of Exercise Biology and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    E Pihl

  3. Department of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    A Mägi

Authors
  1. E Pihl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K Zilmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T Kullisaar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C Kairane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A Mägi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M Zilmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E Pihl.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pihl, E., Zilmer, K., Kullisaar, T. et al. Atherogenic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in relation to overweight values in male former athletes. Int J Obes 30, 141–146 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803068

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803068

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links