Comparison of the cytokine responses to acute strength exercise between oral contraceptive users and naturally cycling women

Abstract

Purpose Cytokines are released as part of an inflammatory reaction in response to strength exercise to initiate muscle repair and morphological adaptations. Whether hormonal fluctuations induced by the menstrual cycle or oral contraceptives affect inflammatory responses to strength exercise remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to compare the response of cytokines after acute strength exercise in naturally menstruating women and oral contraceptive users. Methods Naturally menstruating women (MC, n = 13, 24 ± 4 years, weekly strength training: 4.3 ± 1.7 h) and women using a monophasic combined pill (> 9 months) (OC, n = 8, 22 ± 3 years, weekly strength training: 4.5 ± 1.9 h) were recruited. A one-repetition-maximum (1RM) test and strength exercise in the squat (4 × 10 repetitions, 70%1RM) was performed in the early follicular phase or pill free interval. Concentrations of oestradiol, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were assessed before (pre), directly after (post) and 24 h after (post24) strength exercise. Results IL-1ra increased from pre to post (+ 51.1 ± 59.4%, p = 0.189) and statistically decreased from post to post24 (– 20.5 ± 13.5%, p = 0.011) only in OC. Additionally, IL-1β statistically decreased from post to post24 (– 39.6 ± 23.0%, p = 0.044) only in OC. There was an interaction effect for IL-1β (p = 0.038) and concentrations were statistically decreased at post24 in OC compared to MC (p = 0.05). IL-8 increased across both groups from post to post24 (+ 66.6 ± 96.3%, p = 0.004). Conclusion We showed a differential regulation of IL-1β and IL-1ra between OC users in the pill-free interval and naturally cycling women 24 h after strength exercise, while there was no effect on other cytokines. Whether this is associated with previously shown compromised morphological adaptations remains to be investigated.

Beyond muscles: Investigating immunoregulatory myokines in acute resistance exercise – A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Thirty‐four studies, including 64 intervention groups with a total of 495 participants (89% male/11% female), were included in this systematic review and meta‐analysis. From the total of 34 studies included in the meta‐analyses, 29 studies investigated IL‐6 with 56 effect sizes, 55,74‐100 11 examined IL‐10 with 24 effect sizes, 55,74,75,77‐80,85,88,89,97 and further 5 analyzed IL‐1ra with 14 effect sizes 77,83‐85,97 . Nine studies with 15 effect sizes looked into TNF‐α, 75,78,87,89,96,98,101‐103 and five studies accounting for eight effect sizes investigated IL‐15 33,88,91,104,105 .…”

“…From the total of 34 studies included in the meta-analyses, 29 studies investigated IL-6 with 56 effect sizes, 55,74-100 11 examined IL-10 with 24 effect sizes, 55,74,75,[77][78][79][80]85,88,89,97 and further 5 analyzed IL-1ra with 14 effect sizes. 77,[83][84][85]97 Nine studies with 15 effect sizes looked into TNFα, 75,78,87,89,96,98,[101][102][103] and five studies accounting for eight effect sizes investigated IL-15. 33,88,91,104,105 As displayed in Table 2, only two studies investigated the effects of resistance exercise on female participants, 88,97 and two studies had at least one female intervention group investing sex-dependent differences in results.…”

“…77,[83][84][85]97 Nine studies with 15 effect sizes looked into TNFα, 75,78,87,89,96,98,[101][102][103] and five studies accounting for eight effect sizes investigated IL-15. 33,88,91,104,105 As displayed in Table 2, only two studies investigated the effects of resistance exercise on female participants, 88,97 and two studies had at least one female intervention group investing sex-dependent differences in results. 74,99 One study did not report their participants' sex.…”

Effect of combined oral contraceptive on cardiorespiratory function and immune activation in premenopausal women involved in exercise: A systematic review protocol

“…In contrast, some studies reported decrease in the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 in COC users compared to naturally cycling women [35]. While in other studies, COC did not alter the levels of IL-6 and other related cytokines during exercise [43,44]. The duration and intensity of exercise among other factors like age appears to play a major role in regulating immune function [45,46].…”

“…In fact, available evidence regarding the effect of COC on the markers of immune activation [37][38][39][40][41] especially in exercise condition are limited and inconsistent. For instance, COC was shown to increase the levels of interleukin (IL)-1ra, IL-8 and Creactive protein (CRP) during exercise [42,43]. In contrast, some studies reported decrease in the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 in COC users compared to naturally cycling women [35].…”