CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Vol 21, No 6, November/December 2010
310
AFRICA
inflammatory mediators, such as tumour necrosis factor alpha
(TNF-
α
), interleukin 6 (IL-6) or IL-8.
12
In this edition of the
Cardiovascular Journal of Africa
, the
results of a study in black South African adolescents indicate
a trend of higher serum hsCRP levels in boys with a higher
percentage of body fat.
21
Waist circumference in girls was
significantly positively associated with serum hsCRP. In the
boys, there was an inverse correlation between percentage body
fat and fitness, and between fitness and serum hsCRP, indicating
a beneficial effect of physical activity and fitness to decrease
their risk for cardiovascular disease. In the girls, a significant
difference was found between serum hsCRP levels in the differ-
ent physical activity categories, with lower serum hsCRP values
in girls in the higher physical activity group.
The results indicate that South African children in low-
income areas with a low prevalence of obesity are not necessarily
protected from an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Low
physical activity has been described among children in such
communities.
1,2
Obesity should be prevented in South African
children and adolescents by encouraging increased physical
activity.
H SALOME KRUGER,
Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University,
Potchefstroom, South Africa
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