A single ultra-endurance competition induces an inflammatory response depending on the duration of physical effort, with increased acute-phase cytokines, and an altered iron metabolism. Irisin, whose biological meaning is still uncertain, seems to be associated with acute variations of some metabolic parameters.

Smoking contributes to the pro-inflammatory status of the PVAT by enhancing expression and activity of the P2X7 R-inflammasome complex; the effect on adipocytokines more related to insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities appears trivial.

In subjects at risk for T2DM, the TCF7L2 polymorphisms were associated with reduced Raex into systemic circulation, causing reduced postprandial blood glucose increase and, in turn, lower insulin secretion rate with no impairment in β-cell function. The reduced Raex is likely due to greater glucose retention in the splanchnic area.

The response to strenuous exercise was investigated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, oxidative damage, thiol redox status, and inflammation assessments in 32 enrolled triathlon athletes (41:9 ± 7:9 yrs) during Ironman® (IR), or half Ironman® (HIR) competition. In biological samples, inflammatory cytokines, aminothiols (glutathione (GSH), homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), and cysteinylglycine (CysGly)), creatinine and neopterin, oxidative stress (OxS) biomarkers (protein carbonyl (PC), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)), and ROS were assessed. Thirteen HIR and fourteen IR athletes finished the race. Postrace, ROS (HIR +20%; IR +28%; p < 0:0001), TBARS (HIR +57%; IR +101%), PC (HIR +101%; IR +130%) and urinary neopterin (HIR +19%, IR +27%) significantly (range p < 0:05-0.0001) increased. Moreover, HIR showed an increase in total Cys +28%, while IR showed total aminothiols, Cys, Hcy, CysGly, and GSH increase by +48, +30, +58, and +158%, respectively (range p < 0:05-0.0001). ROS production was significantly correlated with TBARS and PC (R 2 = 0:38 and R 2 = 0:40; p < 0:0001) and aminothiols levels (range R 2 = 0:17-0.47; range p < 0:01-0.0001). In particular, ROS was directly correlated with the athletes' age (R 2 = 0:19; p < 0:05), with ultraendurance years of training (R 2 = 0:18; p < 0:05) and the days/week training activity (R 2 = 0:16; p < 0:05). Finally, the days/week training activity (hours/in the last 2 weeks) was found inversely correlated with the IL-6 postrace (R 2 = -0:21; p < 0:01). A strenuous performance, the Ironman® distance triathlon competition, alters the oxidant/antioxidant balance through a great OxS response that is directly correlated to the inflammatory parameters; furthermore, the obtained data suggest that an appropriate training time has to be selected in order to achieve the lowest ROS production and IL-6 concentration at the same time.

Endurance show higher P2X7R-Infl expression and function vs SED and ATH; however, maximal exercise determines prevailing pro-inflammatory vs anti-inflammatory responses in untrained and trained participants, respectively, highlighting a likely cause-effect relationship between degree of physical activity and P2X7R-Infl-mediated responses.