Long-term training induces a healthy inflammatory and endocrine emergent biomarker profile in elderly men

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the changes in a large panel of emergent geriatric biomarkers in long-term trained elderly men to analyze the effects of long-term exercise on an aged population. We collected blood samples from two groups of male volunteers older than 65 years who maintain a measure of functional independence: one group of sedentary subjects without a history of regular physical activity and the other of subjects who have sustained training, starting during adulthood (mean training time=49±8 years). We studied morbidity, polypharmacy, cellular and serological inflammatory parameters, and endocrine mediators. After adjusting for confounding factors, we observed reduced medication intake per subject and lower number of diseases per subject with statistical differences nearly significant in the long-term exercise group. We showed that long-term training was associated with lower levels of white blood cell counts, neutrophil counts, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, and soluble TNF receptor-I. Furthermore, we noted an increase in the concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 and dehydroepiandrosterone in the long-term training group. We concluded that long-term exercise training from adulthood to old age is clearly associated with a healthy profile of emergent geriatric biomarkers. Long-term training could improve the inflammatoryendocrine imbalance associated with disease, frailty, functional decline, and mortality in elderly men. Our results point to the benefits of prolonged exercise from adulthood to old age.

DHEA, DHEA-S and cortisol responses to acute exercise in older adults in relation to exercise training status and sex

“…This is consistent with Arai et al (2006) who found no significant difference in DHEA-S between older male runners and those who were sedentary, and Traustadottir et al (2004) who reported no differences in cortisol levels between fit older women and those who were of average fitness. Although this present finding is in contrast to other studies which suggest that DHEA/S is higher in endurance trained (de Gonzalo-Calvo et al 2011;Tissandier et al 2001) and moderately trained (Ravaglia et al 2001) older men. In these previous and current investigations, blood samples were collected at similar times under the same conditions (fasted, rested, etc.).…”

Mail-Based Intervention for Sarcopenia Prevention Increased Anabolic Hormone and Skeletal Muscle Mass in Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults: The INE (Intervention by Nutrition and Exercise) Study

“…10,11 In addition, the serum IGF-1 and DHEA can be maintained at a high level by long-term training in older adults. 30 The current trial shows that physical activity was increased in the W/N and W groups. Therefore, the W/N and W groups, but not the C group, showed a great increase in the IGF-1 and DHEA-S levels.…”

Melatonin as a Potential Agent in the Treatment of Sarcopenia

“…Melatonin may also counteract or reduce those pathologies. One example is the systemic subacute inflammation which is a predominant characteristic of the aging process [109]. This low grade inflammation has been implicated in the development of a number of chronic diseases [110] and is associated with sarcopenia development as well [67,111].…”