Hs-CRP and TNF- alpha in response to a stepwise incremental bicycle test in adult obese men

To compare of circulating levels of as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C reactive protein (CRP) as pro- inflammation cytokines between obese and none obese men and also to evaluate its response to a stepwise incremental bicycle test in obese men, eighty sedentary adult obese men (30 ≤ BMI ≤ 36, 40 ± 5 aged) and twelve none-obese men matched for age participated in this study. Fasting blood samples were obtained of two groups in order to measuring serum CRP, TNF-α, insulin and glucose. Depending of the values of insulin and glucose insulin resistance index (HOMA2) was calculated. Blood samples were also repeated in obese group after exercise test in order to determine all variables responses to exercise. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS software version 15.0 using an independent paired t-test. At baseline, Serum TNF-α, CRP, insulin and glucose concentrations and insulin resistance were significantly higher in obese group than in normal weight subjects (p ˂ 0.05). Compared to pre-training, the CRP and TNF-α levels increased significantly (P<0.01) after acute exercise while glucose concentration decreased significantly in studied obese participants (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in insulin resistance by cycling exercise with compared to baseline (p = 0.154). This study suggests obesity is associated with systemic inflammation and a incremental cycle test have inflammatory properties regardless that is not related with glucose concentration.