The effects of pilates exercise on lipid metabolism and inflammatory cytokines mRNA expression in female undergraduates

Abstract

[Purpose]The purpose of the study was to verify the effects of Pilates exercise by observing the impact of 8 weeks of Pilates exercise on lipid metabolism and inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in female undergraduates in their 20s who had no prior experience in Pilates exercise and had not exercised in the previous 6 months.[Methods]There were 18 subjects with no prior experience in Pilates exercise. The subjects were separated into the Pilates exercise group (n = 9) and the non-exercise control group (n = 9). The former performed Pilates exercise for 60-70 minutes over 8 weeks with a gradual strength increase of 9-16 in the Rating of Perceived Exercise (RPE). The body composition, creatine kinase in the bloodstream and lipid metabolism (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG) were measured before and after the experiment and Real-Time PCR was used to investigate the mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-⍺.[Results]The creatine kinase (CK) in the blood had significant differences between the groups. The test group showed significant increase compared to the control group after 8 weeks of Pilates exercise (p = 0.007). Lipid analysis showed that the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly different in the two groups (p = 0.049), with the Pilates exercise group exhibiting significantly higher levels compared to the control group. No significant differences were observed in the levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG). IL-6 mRNA expression did not show significant differences between the groups either. Timing and TNF-α mRNA expression showed significant effect in both the exercise and the control groups (p = 0.013) but no correlation.[Conclusion]It was found from the study that Pilates exercise for 8 weeks affected CK expression (the muscle damage marker) and induced positive changes in the levels of high-density lipoprotein.

Effects of Pilates Training and Turmeric Supplementation on Sirtuin 1 Level and Body Composition in Postmenopausal Females with Sedentary Overweight: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Clinical Trial

“…The current study results showed that 12 weeks of Pilates training with or without turmeric supplementation significantly decreased weight and body fat percent in overweight females. It was in agreement with studies that showed Pilates training could improve body composition (6,7).…”

“…Exercise training is one of the interventions reported to reduce the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 30% and prevent loss of muscle mass and strength, increase the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscles, exert anti-inflammatory effects, and thereby, postpone agerelated muscle deteriorations (5). In the early 20th century, Joseph Pilates suggested a physical fitness system, called Pilates, that is well established to elicit numerous healthbeneficial effects and has the potential to counteract agerelated diseases, such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes (6,7).…”

Pilates vs. Balance Training in Health Community-Dwelling Seniors: a 3-arm, Randomized Controlled Trial

“…From a healthrelated viewpoint, the need for comprehensive alternative training regimes that integratively consider aspects of strength, endurance and balance training seems promising. This is of particular importance, since recent Pilates training studies also revealed positive effects on cardiocirculatory and psychosocial health outcomes, such as blood profiles, blood pressure, body fat, sleep, pain, quality and aerobic capacity [12,30,39,41,51]. Most of the studies, however, did not examine Pilates training against other training interventions with compa rable contents.…”

Effects of a 20-Week Pilates Method Program on Body Composition

“…4 We can also highlight a recent study that verifies the effects of PM on lipid metabolism and inflammatory cytokines mRNA expression. 18 The results showed significant increases in blood HDL-C concentration despite an increase in the body fat ratio, after the 8-week Pilates intervention. These results imply that PM seems to be effective in increasing blood lipid metabolism, however, the study failed to verify the exercise positive effect in TC, TG and LDL-C concentration.…”