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Randomized trial shows reduced cadmium levels and epigenetic changes in older women, indicating potential health benefits.
INTRODUCTION: Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal linked to impaired cardiorespiratory fitness and altered DNA methylation patterns. This study investigated the effects of 14 weeks of combined exercise training on epigenetic modifications and blood cadmium levels in women with varying aerobic fitness. METHODS: Participants underwent three weekly training sessions totaling 180 minutes. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations included anthropometry, blood pressure, physical performance, and heavy metal analysis. DNA methylation was assessed using the Illumina EPIC BeadChip. A total of 513 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) related to cadmium were identified, with enrichment in pathways associated with neurodegeneration-related processes. Intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA) also differed significantly between groups at baseline. CONCLUSION: Combined exercise training significantly reduced cadmium levels in women aged 50-70 years with low aerobic fitness and induced locus-specific epigenetic changes associated with cadmium-related pathways, which may be relevant to pathways implicated in age-related neurological conditions. CLINICAL TRIAL: The study was registered in the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC; identifier RBR-3g38dx).
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Rodrigues et al. (2026) studied this question.
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