The Effects of Exercise on the Immune Parameters and Stress Hormones in Elite Sportswomen

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The Effect of Exercise on Leptin, Insulin, Cortisol and Lipid Profiles in Obese Children

“…Cortisol degradation increases in obese individuals due to excess adipose tissue; the serum cortisol level is kept normal by the compensatory effects of adrenocorticotrophic hormone. 20,40 Anderson et al 40 found no significant relationship between minimal weight loss and nocturnal cortisol secretion. In the present study, LDL levels decreased and HDL levels increased after 12 weeks of exercise.…”

“…37 Similar to the results obtained in experiments using animal models, both insulin and cortisol have been shown to be potent promoters of leptin production in cultured human adipocytes. 20,37,38 Insulin and, less remarkably, cortisol were found to have significant positive effects on serum leptin, whereas dehydroepiandrostenedione had a weaker negative influence in a multiple regression analysis using BMI as an index of degree of body fat. 39 These findings are in agreement with experimental data that demonstrate that both insulin and cortisol are stimulators of leptin expression in cultured human adipocytes.…”

“…At each training session, those in the exercise group performed warm-up exercises lasting 5 -10 min, followed by a 20 -45 min walking-jogging exercise with a targeted heart rate reserve of 60 -65%, and 5 -10 min of relaxation exercises at the end of the exercise period. The heart rate reserve, used to calculate the intensity of exercise, was determined by counting heart beats at the carotid artery 10 s after the cessation of exercise and then using the Karvonen equation: 20 [heart rate maximum -heart rate rest ) × (0.60 -0.65) + heart rate rest ]. Heart rate was recorded throughout the exercise period using a Polar Pacer ® heart rate monitor (Polar Vantage, Kempele, Finland).…”

Immune response to exercise in elite sportsmen during the competitive season

“…However, the mechanisms of these immunological changes with training or exercise are still unclear. Adrenocorticotropin hormone, cortisol, catecholamines, and other hormones are known to cause redistribution of lymphocytes and to have direct effects on lymphocyte function [12,19,21]. Several factors such as type, duration, intensity, and program of exercise have also important effects on immune response to exercise [20,28].…”

“…The immune system is a multifaceted array of cells, proteins, and compounds that respond sensitively to a variety of stimuli such as acute exercise and prolonged training in athletes [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. In elite athletes, immunological alterations reduce performance and endurance levels [13,18,19] associated to decreased immune function and increased susceptibility to infections [9].…”