The Effect of Exercise on Glucoregulatory Hormones: A Countermeasure to Human Aging: Insights from a Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Abstract

Hormones are secreted in a circadian rhythm, but also follow larger-scale timetables, such as monthly (hormones of the menstrual cycle), seasonal (i.e., winter, summer), and, ultimately, lifespan-related patterns. Several contexts modulate their secretion, such as genetics, lifestyle, environment, diet, and exercise. They play significant roles in human physiology, influencing growth of muscle, bone, and regulating metabolism. Exercise training alters hormone secretion, depending on the frequency, duration, intensity, and mode of training which has an impact on the magnitude of the secretion. However, there remains ambiguity over the effects of exercise training on certain hormones such as glucoregulatory hormones in aging adults. With advancing age, there are many alterations with the endocrine system, which may ultimately alter human physiology. Some recent studies have reported an anti-aging effect of exercise training on the endocrine system and especially cortisol, growth hormone and insulin. As such, this review examines the effects of endurance, interval, resistance and combined training on hormones (i.e., at rest and after) exercise in older individuals. We summarize the influence of age on glucoregulatory hormones, the influence of exercise training, and where possible, examine masters’ athletes’ endocrinological profile.

Functional exercise circuit reduce the metabolic risk factor in older people in three months of training

“…Aging is associated with the gradual decreasing in physiological reserves, an increased risk of comorbidities and mortality, and a general decline in the functional capacity associated with biological and external factors (Kirkwood, 2005;Sellami et al, 2019;Sepúlveda-Loyola et al, 2020).…”

Randomized, Controlled Trial of Exercise on Objective and Subjective Sleep in Parkinson's Disease

“…Additional potential mechanisms of chronic exercise-induced benefits on sleep include reduction of inflammation, increases in growth hormone, alterations in autonomic function/heart rate variability, and changes in neurotransmitters important for sleep regulation. 16,17,37,38 In light of the prevalence of sleep dysfunction, mood disorders, autonomic dysfunction, and neuroinflammation in PD, the influence of exercise may be particularly relevant for this patient population. 1,39 In comparing objective sleep outcomes in the untrained state (baseline) with chronic and acute effects of exercise, sleep architecture was improved with CEX compared with baseline, whereas the same effects were not seen with AEX.…”

Growth Hormone as a Potential Mediator of Aerobic Exercise-Induced Reductions in Visceral Adipose Tissue

“…Consequently, it is unclear whether these findings translate to older adults or those with more severe metabolic abnormalities. A recent review involving three studies showed that regular exercise resulted in negligible effects on GH in older adults (Sellami et al, 2019 ). As the studies included in the review were limited to small samples and did not include stand-alone aerobic exercise interventions, further research is required to determine whether exercise-induced changes in physiologic GH improve age- and obesity-related disease in elderly cohorts.…”