The effects of physical activity on chronic subclinical systemic inflammation

Abstract

Chronic subclinical systemic inflammation (CSSI) is a pathogenic event and a common risk factor for many noncommunicable diseases like atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, cancer, and obstructive lung disease. On the other hand, regular physical activity has been found to reduce this risk. Many studies of different design were conducted to assess the association between inflammatory mediators as markers of CSSI and regular physical activity. The aim of this review was to present the current level of evidence and understanding of potential mechanisms by which physical activity reduces inflammatory mediators involved in CSSI and the types of physical activity required for the expected effect. We have found that observational studies consistently report a positive association between regular physical activity and lower CSSI, but the design of these studies does not allow to infer a causal relationship. Interventional studies, in contrast, were not consistent about the causal relationship between regular physical activity and lower CSSI. The problem in interpreting these results lies in significant differences between these interventional studies in their design, sample size, study population, and intervention itself (intensity and extent, follow up, weight loss). We can conclude that the scientific community has to invest a significant effort into high-quality interventional trials focused on finding the type, intensity, and extent of physical activity that would produce the most favourable effect on CSSI.

Effect of a pedometer-based walking intervention on body composition in patients with ESRD: a randomized controlled trial

“…Inactivity is associated with muscle atrophy [42], and the modest increase in steps during the intervention period may have prevented wasting. Kidney disease is also associated with a chronic inflammatory state and significant protein-energy wasting [43][44][45], and physical activity and exercise have been found to have antiinflammatory effects [46].…”

Effect of a Pedometer-based Walking Intervention on Body Composition in Patients with ESRD: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Kidney disease is also associated with a chronic inflammatory state and significant proteinenergy wasting, [44][45][46] and physical activity and exercise have been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. 47 It should also be noted that step counts are a light-intensity activity and do not capture the full spectrum of physical activity. Therefore another possibility is that though walking regressed from 3 to 6 months, patients engaged in isotemporal substitution with other forms of activity, and so some portion of the continued increase in muscle mass and decrease in fat mass in the intervention group was from reduction in overall sedentary time rather than walking.…”

Effect of a Pedometer-based Walking Intervention on Body Composition in Patients with ESRD: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Kidney disease is also associated with a chronic inflammatory state and significant protein-energy wasting, [42][43][44] and physical activity and exercise have been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. 45 It is possible that activity of low to moderate intensity could result in reduced protein-energy wasting for a period of time even after cessation of activity. Indeed, sedentary behavior and protein-energy wasting have independent but synergistic effects on muscle.…”