Body Composition, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Low-Grade Inflammation in Middle-Aged Men and Women

Plasma levels of CRP, adiponectin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in (A) men and (B) women classified by visceral AT accumulation (<130 or ≥130 cm² in men and <100 or ≥100 cm² in women) and CRF levels (<1.7 or ≥10.7 kpm/kg in men and <6.9 or ≥6.9 kpm/kg in women). Significantly different from corresponding subgroup (p <0.05, on log-transformed values).

Proportion of subjects with an increased inflammation score in participants classified by (A) BMI (<25 or ≥25 kg/m²) and CRF (<10.7 or ≥10.7 kpm/kg in men and <6.9 or ≥6.9 kpm/kg in women) or (B) visceral AT accumulation (<130 or ≥130 cm² in men and <100 or ≥100 cm² in women) and CRF. The inflammation score was defined as the sum of the number of inflammatory markers >50th percentile (CRP, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6) or <50th percentile for adiponectin. Significantly different from corresponding subgroup (p <0.05).

Mean inflammation score in participants classified by plasma glucose area under the curve (AUC) measured during the oral glucose tolerance test and by visceral AT accumulation (A) or CRF levels (B) and by insulin AUC measured during the oral glucose tolerance test and by visceral AT accumulation (C) or CRF levels (D). The inflammation score was defined as the sum of the number of inflammatory markers >50th percentile (CRP, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6) or <50th percentile for adiponectin. In men, cut-off values of 1.16 mmol/L/min × 10⁻³ and of 56.5 pmol/L/min × 10⁻³, respectively, for glucose and insulin areas under the curve during the oral glucose tolerance test were used to classify participants with low or high values corresponding to median values observed in the sample of men. In women, these respective cut-off values corresponded to 1.10 mmol/L/min × 10⁻³ and 59.1 pmol/L/min × 10⁻³. Significantly different from corresponding subgroups (p <0.05).

Relation between BMI and visceral AT accumulation in men (straight line) and women (dashed line).