Short-Term and Lifelong Exercise Training Lowers Inflammatory Mediators in Older Men

Abstract

Increased basal low-grade inflammation is observed with advancing age, which is augmented by physical inactivity. However, data regarding the influence of lifelong exercise training and particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on inflammatory mediators in older men are scarce. Therefore, we examined effects of 6weeks of aerobic preconditioning followed by 6weeks of HIIT on inflammatory mediators [interleukin (IL)-6, homocysteine, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)] in previously sedentary older men (SED) and masters athletes (LEX). Further, we investigated whether SED exhibited greater basal inflammatory biomarkers compared to LEX. Twenty-two men (aged 62±2years) participated in the SED group, while 17 age-matched LEX men (aged 60±5years) also participated as a positive comparison group. In SED, preconditioning (P=0.030, d=0.34) and HIIT (P=0.030, d=0.48) caused a reduction in IL-6 compared to enrollment. SED homocysteine did not change throughout (P>0.57; d<0.26), while the decrease in hsCRP after preconditioning (P=0.486, d=0.25) and after HIIT (P=0.781, d=0.23) compared to enrollment was small. HIIT did not influence IL-6 or hsCRP in LEX (all P>0.42; d<0.3). Homocysteine increased from enrollment to post-HIIT in LEX (P=0.144, d=0.83), but all other perturbations were trivial. IL-6 and hsCRP were greater in SED than LEX throughout the investigation (all P<0.029; d>0.72), but homocysteine was not different (all P >0.131; d<0.41). Results of this study suggest moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and HIIT lowers IL-6 (and possible hsCRP) in previously sedentary older men. Moreover, lifelong exercise is associated with reduced concentrations of some inflammatory biomarkers in older males, and therefore, physical activity, rather than age per se, is implicated in chronic low-grade inflammation. Moreover, physical inactivity-induced inflammation may be partly salvaged by short-term exercise training.

Being Physically Active for a Long-Standing Mitigates Inflammaging Progression in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Interestingly, the associations between physical performance tests and the inflammatory phenomenon found after resuming training in the group of older men can reinforce the previous suggestion that stronger and faster volunteers might generate better conditions to mitigate the development and progression of inflammaging [23,27]. However, the lack of associations between these parameters in older women can suggest that ten months of resuming physical training is not enough to promote the same regulatory effect found in older men, although it was sufficient for the ratios between pro-inflammatory (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines to become similar to the pre-pandemic period.…”

“…Although the systemic levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, and IL-10 were higher at PRE, and these findings putatively suggested that long-standing physical exercise would drive the systemic state toward a pro-inflammatory direction, the data obtained in the ratios between pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines, in general, demonstrated an inflammatory status regulated pre-pandemic [40], a significant deregulation during detraining phase [28,51], and a "return" of regulated status with the resumption of exercise training [19]. Interestingly, a study carried out with twenty-two healthy and sedentary older men, with an average age of 62 years, showed that six weeks of high-intensity aerobic training was capable of reducing serum levels of C-reactive protein and IL-6 to values similar to those of older adult athletes who practiced competitive sports (running, swimming and cycling) for more than thirty years [27].…”

“…Although the WHO declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2023, until now, the lockdown effects on the benefits of regular practice physical exercise performed by older adults in terms of systemic inflammatory status were scarcely assessed [26][27][28], thus are not fully understood. Likewise, there is a lack of information on whether resuming exercise training could impact the inflammaging state in these same physically active older women and older men.…”

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in Hypoxia Improves Maximal Aerobic Capacity More Than HIIT in Normoxia: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression

“…HIIT is typically around or below 100% VO 2max whilst SIT is all-out, an intensity above VO 2max [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Both HIIT and SIT are reportedly efficacious in improving VO 2max at sea level [ 19 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. The understanding that exercise intensity is a potent stimuli for improving VO 2max is not a new discovery [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

Acute Inflammatory Response to Eccentric Exercise in Young and Master Resistance-trained Athletes

“…In this effect, our study suggests that young athletes might activate repair mechanisms more efficiently than master athletes immediately after exercise. This is likely due to the chronic adaptation resulting from years of training in master athletes, which leads to less pronounced acute inflammatory signaling [5,23,47]. Whether the lack of significant change in MCP-1 levels may impair immediate repair responses (i. e. inadequate immune cell recruitment) or such adaptations could reflect a minimizing excessive inflammation while optimizing recovery and repair processes in master athletes should be explored by further studies.…”