Higher physical activity is associated with increased androgens, low interleukin 6 and less aortic calcification in peripheral obese elderly women

Abstract

The presence of peripheral fat mass (PFM) appears to counteract the atherogenic trends of central fat mass through mechanisms presently poorly understood. In elderly women with distinct forms of body fat distribution, we wanted to study whether physical activity and aortic calcification are related to plasma levels of cortisol, 17-a-hydroxyprogesterone (17-a-OHP), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione (ASD), and interleukin 6 (IL6) accomplishing an antiatherogenic milieu. A total of 276 well-defined generally healthy women aged 60-85 years were included. Categorization of body fat distribution was based on the relative presence of central to PFM measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Women meticulously reported weekly physical activity. Outcome measures were aortic calcification between lumbar vertebra L1 and L4, plasma levels of hormones, and IL6. In peripheral adipose women, plasma DHEA and ASD increased with the degree of physical activity. This was also mirrored in the ratios of cortisol/ DHEA and cortisol/17-a-OHP. Peripheral adipose women with high DHEA relative to cortisol had less severe aortic calcification, and in the same group a higher level of physical activity was associated with lower levels of plasma IL6. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that high physical activity is associated with a high circulating androgen to cortisol ratio, low IL6, and less severe aortic calcification. Since androgens inhibit IL6 secretion, the activity-induced increase of these hormones might be an anti-atherogenic signal.

Physical Activity and Endogenous Sex Hormone Levels in Postmenopausal Women: a Cross-Sectional Study in the Prospect-EPIC Cohort

“…In the recent Penn Ovarian Aging Study (13), no association between physical activity and DHEAS in any menopausal transition stage was found. The study of Straub et al (29), reported a positive association between physical activity and plasma levels of DHEAS in women with peripheral obesity. The results of this study should be interpreted with caution because these are not adjusted for potential confounders.…”

“…Only three other studies investigated the effect of physical activity on circulating levels of DHEAS in postmenopausal women, with mixed results (10,13,29). In a 12-month exercise trial among 170 postmenopausal women, McTiernan et al (11) did not observe any effect of the exercise intervention on DHEAS.…”

Physical Activity in Chronic Kidney Disease: a Plausible Approach to Vascular Calcification?

“…Among old women a linear association between CAC and PA could be demonstrated independent of multivariable adjustment [49]. Finally, Straub and coworkers [50] described in a cohort of 276 healthy women aged 60 - 85 years that PA was associated with an increase in the androgen to cortisol ratio as well low interleukin 6 and less severe abdominal aorta calcification postulating that the anti-atherogenic properties of PA may be mediated by the inhibition of inflammation operated by androgens [50]. …”

Exercício físico como fator de prevenção aos processos inflamatórios decorrentes do envelhecimento

“…Especula-se que a contração muscular induz a produção e liberação de IL-6 na circulação e contribui com a redução na produção de TNF-α (NICKLAS; BRINKLEY, 2009;STRAUB et al, 2008;FEBBRAIO;PEDERSEN, 2002 …”

“…A imunossenescência compreende o fenômeno denominado inflammaging, que é uma regulação positiva da resposta inflamatória por modificação no perfil de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, e que vem sendo relacionado com doenças crônico-degenerativas e com o envelhecimento (GIUNTA, 2006 BRINKLEY, 2009;STRAUB et al, 2008), ou seja, quanto mais ativo fisicamente o indivíduo menor a chance dos efeitos indesejáveis de citocinas pró-inflamatórias. Sugere-se que ajustes adaptativos observados em fibras musculares e sistema imunitário inato ao exercício regular contribuem com a redução dos níveis basais de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, incluindo o TNF-α, IFN-γ e IL-1β (NICKLAS;BRINKLEY, 2009;PETERSEN;PEDERSEN, 2005).…”