Effects of walking on low-grade inflammation and their implications for Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

ObjectiveInflammatory cytokines released by hypertrophic adipocytes contribute to low-grade inflammation, a characteristic of Type 2 Diabetes. Skeletal muscle contraction during physical activity stimulates the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines able to counteract this inflammatory status. The aim of this study was to review the evidence of the effectiveness of walking as a physical activity intervention to reduce inflammation. The interplay between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle contributions was also investigated.MethodA structured literature review of papers available up to December 2014 was carried out within the PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of Science databases using the keywords “walking” and “inflammation” in order to identify the studies involving healthy subjects and subjects diagnosed with, or at increased risk of, Type 2 Diabetes.ResultsThirty-two studies were reviewed, five investigating the acute effects of walking and twenty-seven its chronic effects (n = 21 interventional and n = 6 observational). Acute effects of walking bouts led to an increase of interleukin-6 in one study, although without any increase in the concentration of the anti-inflammatory marker interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. Eight interventional studies showed a significant reduction of inflammation. A reduction in tumour necrosis factor-α concentration was often associated with an adiposity reduction. The observational studies showed that individuals who walk more present a lower inflammatory status.ConclusionThere is no consensus regarding the efficacy of walking in the reduction of low-grade systemic inflammation, even though a relationship cannot be excluded. In each walking bout, no anti-inflammatory effect due to the IL-6-stimulated myokine cascade can be demonstrated.

Higher skeletal muscle mass may protect against ischemic stroke in community-dwelling adults without stroke and dementia: The PRESENT project

“…The recent findings allow the skeletal muscle to be considered as an endocrine organ [ 5 ]. Contraction of skeletal muscle secret myokines and block the inflammatory signaling pathways generated by chronically elevated levels of pro-inflammatory adipokines [ 6 ] Muscle mass can be increased by weight training exercise. However, it is unknown whether increased muscle mass can prevent stroke.…”

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“…In view of the fact that ESR is a good predictor for the inflammatory response 21,22 moreover hsCRP is also significantly increased in non vitamin D group which can up regulate the expression of AT1 receptors and activate rennin angiotensin system (RAS) that could increase the arterial blood pressure this is probably due to vitamin D deficiency or inadequate sunlight exposure and utilization of vitamin D by the body cells because serum vitamin D is an important biological marker for regulating the hsCRP level in blood 17 and significant decrease of blood hsCRP was found in vitamin D supplemented group these changes might be due to anti obesity and anti inflammatory activity of vitamin D since obesity has a role in increase the CRP level in blood 15 these factors could also be a reason for the reduction of BMI in vitamin D group. At the same time disease activity is greatly reduced in this groups which might be due to anti inflammatory activity of vitamin D by controlling cytokines release and immune tolerance 23,24 .…”

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“…Отримані нами дані співпадають з результатами багатьох досліджень, що вивчали різноманітні маркери запальної та протизапальної активності у діабетичних пацієнтів [1, 3, 4, 8,10].…”