The Relationship of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Resting Plasma CRP and Lipids Levels Between Trained and Untrained University Students

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of physical activity level, cardiorespiratory fitness and plasma CRP between trained and untrained university students. 30 athlete students and 30 non-athlete students participated in this research as athletic and non athletic groups respectively. To determine plasma CRP and lipids level, blood sample was gathered in fast state at 8: 00 A.M. Then, after 5 minutes of warm up, maximum oxygen uptake was measured through a 12 minute run/walk test in the two groups. CRP was measured by immunoturbidimetric method. Blood lipids (HDL-C, LDL-C, TC and TG) were measured by autoanalyzer R1000 through Pars Azmoon specific kits. Results suggested that there is a significant difference in plasma CRP level between athlete (0.39 mg/dl) and non-athlete (0.33 mg/dl) student (P<0.01). There was no significant correlation between cardiovascular fitness and CRP level. There is a negative significant correlation between plasma CRP level and HDL-C, (r=0.27, P<0.05). Because about 40 percent of the subjects did not play ball and combat sports such as wrestling, judo, Boxing, Karate and tae kwon do, it is concluded that possibly because of microinjuries and chronic inflammations in these sports, athletes playing these types of sports have higher CRP level than non-athletes. It is possible that higher CRP in athletic group causes from such mechanism. Therefore, it is important to consider the type and level of mechanical tension in sports when interpreting the level of CRP in athletes and non-athletes.