To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: AHA: Diet and Exercise Alone Shown to Lower C-Reactive Protein URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/20DA52.htm Doctor's Guide November 14, 2001
By Bruce Wilson Special to DG News ANAHEIM, CA -- November 14, 2001 -- High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) can be effectively reduced by non-pharmacologic therapy using a structured program of exercise training and diet. This finding was presented at this year's American Heart Association (AHA) meeting. Until now, only statin therapy has been shown to effectively reduce hs-CRP via mechanisms that are unrelated to lowering LDL cholesterol, noted Dr. Carl Lavie and researchers from the Alton Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Hs-CRP, a marker of low level inflammation, has been found to be a strong predictor of myocardial infarction and stroke in men and women, as well as subsequent clinical events in patients following major cardiac events. Researchers sought to determine whether a structured program involving a low-fat, Mediterranean diet and a supervised, three-times weekly exercise program for three months could have a positive effect on hs-CRP values. The study assessed hs-CRP and traditional cardiac risk factors in 65 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients following PTCA and MI. The patients, who had a mean age of 64, plus or minus 10 years, were measured at baseline and after completion of three months of Phase II cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training. Values of hs-CRP dropped 31 percent after the three months - from 4.2 mg/L (5th quintile of CAD risk) at baseline to 2.9 mg/L (4th quintile of CAD risk) (p<0.004), the researchers found. In addition, body fat was reduced by 5 percent (from 26.1 percent to 24.8 percent, p <0.01) and exercise capacity improved 36 percent (5.5 to 7.5 METs, p < 0.02). However, there were no significant changes in serum lipids, including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL or triglycerides (baseline values 176 mg/dL, 42 mg/dL, 103 mg/dL, and 161 mg/dL respectively). Noting that the changes in hs-CRP values occurred independent of lipid modulation, Dr. Lavie concluded that an approach involving low fat diet and progressive exercise training can augment pharmacologic strategies in altering inflammatory markers in CAD. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.