Effects of exercise on the immune system in the elderly population

Abstract

Immunosenescence is characterized by impaired cellular immune function concomitant with increased inflammatory activity. Immune dysfunction is associated with increased mortality risk in elderly people. An important part of human ageing is characterized by a decline in the ability of individuals to adapt to environmental stress. Exercise has been suggested as a prototype for studying the effects of stress factors on the cellular immune system. Studies of interactions between an acute bout of exercise and immune function may be a useful and an ethically acceptable tool to investigate cell trafficking, immune mobilization/deficiency and the acute phase response during physical stress situations in relation to human ageing. Elderly humans have a preserved ability to recruit T lymphocytes and NK cells in response to an acute bout of exercise. Physical exercise training programs do not result in major restoration of the senescent immune system in humans. However, highly conditioned elderly humans seem to have a relatively better preserved immune system, although it is not possible to conclude if this is linked to training or other lifestyle-related factors.

Exercise-induced stress behavior, gut-microbiota-brain axis and diet: a systematic review for athletes

“…There are no determined glutamine recommendations, though acute dosage of approximately 20–30 g seem to be without ill effects in healthy adult humans [121]. On the other hand, an acute dose of oral glutamine 2 h before intense exercise ameliorates stress-induced intestinal permeability and lowered plasma endotoxins and may produce anti-inflammatory effects and is a common supplement used to repair and restore intestinal barrier function [122]. Acute glutamine supplementation taken during and after exercise in sufficient amounts to prevent the post-exercise fall in the plasma glutamine concentration has no effect on salivary IgA nor lymphocyte function [120].…”

“…Although no negative effects have been reported, athletes’ diets enriched with polyphenol extracts (blueberry and green tea) have not mitigated the physiological stress of heavy exertion nor did it improve recovery speed [151]. Supplementation of individual micronutrients or consumption of large doses of simple antioxidant mixtures is not recommended [122]. Consuming mega doses of individual vitamins (not uncommon in athletes) is likely to do more harm than good, because most vitamins function mainly as coenzymes in the body [122].…”

“…Supplementation of individual micronutrients or consumption of large doses of simple antioxidant mixtures is not recommended [122]. Consuming mega doses of individual vitamins (not uncommon in athletes) is likely to do more harm than good, because most vitamins function mainly as coenzymes in the body [122]. Once these enzyme systems are saturated, the vitamin in free form can have toxic effects [122].…”

“…Consuming mega doses of individual vitamins (not uncommon in athletes) is likely to do more harm than good, because most vitamins function mainly as coenzymes in the body [122]. Once these enzyme systems are saturated, the vitamin in free form can have toxic effects [122]. Therefore, athletes should obtain complex mixtures of antioxidant compounds from increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.…”

Effect of aerobic training on plasma cytokines and soluble receptors in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis, in response to acute exercise

“…However, further studies are needed to assess how current therapeutic interventions, such as aerobic exercise composed of walking with progressive loading, modulate the inflammatory component of disease in older adults with OA of the knee [18,19]. IL-6, TNF-α, and the soluble receptors for tumor necrosis factor sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 are modulators of inflammation [6,11] and are influenced by physical exercise [20,21].…”