The Influence of Exercise Training on Inflammatory Cytokines and C-Reactive Protein

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a 12-wk exercise training program on inflammatory cytokine and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. A secondary purpose was to determine whether training-induced changes in cytokines and CRP were influenced by age. METHODS: Twenty-nine younger (18-35 yr) and 31 older (65-85 yr) subjects were assigned to young physically active (YPA, N = 15; 25 +/- 5 yr), young physically inactive (YPI, N= 14; 25 +/- 4.7 yr), old physically active (OPA, N = 14; 71 +/- 4 yr), or old physically inactive (OPI, N = 17; 71 +/- 4 yr) groups. The inactive groups completed 12 wk (3 d.wk) of aerobic and resistance exercises, and the physically active control groups continued their normal exercise programs. Blood samples were collected before and after the 12-wk period, and the concentrations of serum CRP, plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) were determined using separate ELISA. RESULTS: Control (YPA and OPA) estimated VO2max was unchanged. Exercise training increased estimated VO2max an average of 10.4% and increased strength by an average of 38.1% in both PI groups. Serum CRP decreased with training (YPI and OPI) groups and was not different from the YPA and OPA groups after training. Plasma IL-6 and IL-1beta did not change, whereas TNF-alpha was higher than YPI and YPA at baseline and after the intervention period. CONCLUSION: These results support the use of combined aerobic/resistance training as a modality to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease development as defined by a decrease in serum CRP concentration in healthy humans.