Acute Resistance Exercise at Varying Volume Loads Does Not Enhance Plasma Interleukin-6

Abstract

Background: Aerobic exercise has been shown to impart anti-inflammatory effects partly through increased secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Still unclear, however, is whether resistance exercise (RE) also enhances IL-6 secretion. Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effect of RE, performed at varying volume loads (VL), on plasma IL-6. Methods: Ten subjects (seven males and three females: age 37.9 ± 11.4 years; height 170.81 ± 11.16 cm; weight 71.36 ± 11.26 Kg.) participated in three randomized RE protocols: high VL (HVL) (5 sets x 20 repetitions at 45% 1-repetition maximum (1-RM), medium VL (MVL) (3x12 at 75% 1-RM), and low VL (LVL) (2x4 at 90% 1-RM) each separated by 96 hours. Capillary blood for IL-6 measurements was drawn immediately pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 1- and 2-hours post-exercise. Results: There were no significant differences in plasma IL-6 between exercise condition (LVL, MVL, HVL) or at any time point (p=0.422 and p=0.870, respectively). Conclusion: Plasma IL-6 levels are not acutely sensitive to RE, regardless of volume load; therefore, any reported anti-inflammatory effect of RE appears to operate outside of the exercise-induced IL-6 pathway.

Effect of resistance exercise training on Crohn’s disease patients

“…Specifically, the secretion of IL-6 during an RE training program does not show clear evidence about its action as a pro or anti-inflammatory cytokine. 32,33 Also, the inflammatory response in skeletal muscles through a muscle hypertrophy program 17 enhances the hypothesis of Pérez 26 that IL-6 secretion may imply the negative influence of the exercise on CD patients. Cronin et al 28 was the unique who studied the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8, IL-10, IL-6, and TNF-α, and the circulating levels of C-reactive protein.…”

“…32 ILs that contribute to both factors during RE training are IL-6 and IL-10. 33,34 IL-6 is a cytokine that utilizes in many intracellular functions. 35 In CD patients, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-1β interfere as principal inflammatory cytokines in intestinal epithelia.…”

“…So, IL-6 acts as mediator signal of hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. 33 Moreover, IL-6 increases when insulin levels are high through AMPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. 33 Both mechanisms of IL-6 probably connect the inhibition of muscle hypertrophy and the exacerbation of CD after RE.…”

“…Between CD and RE conditions, some ILs act as a pro and anti-inflammatory factors [ 32 ]. ILs that contribute to both factors during RE training are IL-6 and IL-10 [ 33 , 34 ]. IL-6 is a cytokine that utilizes in many intracellular functions [ 35 ].…”

“…At this point, contradictory results are shown about the effect of IL-6 in CD patients in relation to RE. Specifically, the secretion of IL-6 during an RE training program does not show clear evidence about its action as a pro or anti-inflammatory cytokine [ 32 , 33 ].…”