Benefit of endurance training in elderly people over a short period is reversible

Abstract

The present study assessed daily activity, physical capacity and body composition in 11 initially sedentary healthy subjects [5 men and 6 women, mean age 62.8 (SD 2.7) years] before training (T(o)), after completion of 7 (T(7w)) and 14 (T(14w)) weeks of training, and again 6 (T(6m)) and 12 (T(12m)) months after training. The mean daily activity index decreased from T(7w) to T(12m) reaching a lower level than at T(o) [T(12m) - T(o) = -1.5 (SD 4.6) units, P = 0.18]. Mean maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) and its corresponding mean power output (Wdot(max)) were increased by 12.5 (SD 6.6)% (P = 0. 003) and 22.8 (SD 12.8)% (P = 0.003), respectively, at T(14w), and returned to their T(o) levels within 1 year. Mean body mass (m(b)) remained stable until T(6m) but increased significantly by 2.6 (SD 3. 7)% from T(6m) to T(12m) (P < 0.05). Mean fat mass (m(f), from bioelectrical impedance analysis measurements) tended to decrease [-2.0 (SD 4.2)%, P = 0.10] during the training period but increased by 7.8 (SD 10.9)% between T(6m) and T(12m) (P < 0.05). The mean fat free mass did not vary during the study period (P = 0.81) but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that mean thigh muscle volume decreased between T(7w) and T(12m) to less than at T(o) [T(12m) - T(o) = -2.3 (SD 3.6)%, P = 0.05]. Therefore, this study confirmed the favourable effects of endurance training on the physical capacity and body composition of elderly people, but demonstrated that the training programme would have to be continued to maintain the training-related benefits (i.e. increased VO(2max) and Wdot(max)) which would otherwise be lost within 1 year. After training, m(b) and m(f) were found to be increased. Furthermore, a fast and reproducible MRI protocol was validated for study of small intra-individual variations in tissue volumes in longitudinal studies.

Socioeconomic and behavioural determinants of overweight/obesity among adults in Botswana: a cross-sectional study

“…Overweight/obesity was highest among individuals aged 55–64 years but declined at ages 65+ years. This finding corroborates data from large scale surveys41–44 which show that mean body weight and BMI gradually increases during most of adult life and reach peak values at 50–59 years of age in both men and women and after the age of 60 years, mean body weight and BMI tend to decrease 33 45 46. Similarly in South Africa it was found that overweight/obesity tends to increase with age 21…”

Effects of High-Intensity Endurance Training on Maximal Oxygen Consumption in Healthy Elderly People

“…The results of the present study suggest that high-intensity endurance exercise may be beneficial, both prophylactically and to promote health. Because the benefit of endurance training in elderly people over a short period is reversible (Morio et al, 2000), one should consider increasing endurance training intensity to maintain enhanced cardiorespiratory capacity.…”

“…Throughout the years, many studies have demonstrated an age-related decline in cardiorespiratory function, as exemplified by the body's maximum capacity to utilize oxygen (VO 2max ) (Morio et al, 2000;Wilmore & Costill, 1994). Endurance training could reverse this decline in aerobic capacity in older individuals.…”

Satellite cells and training in the elderly

“…Others have demonstrated that the decrease in aerobic capacity, loss of muscle and gain of fat can be reversed in elderly people by endurance training (Denis, Chatard, Dormois, Linossier, Geyssant, Lacour, 1986). However, for the favourable effects of the training to be maintained, it is necessary to maintain the training (Morio et al, 2000). Thus a regular level of exercise should be maintained throughout life.…”