Researchers here note that structured exercise programs can reduce the burden of chronic inflammation in older individuals, a desirable outcome. The study is a reminder that being sedentary has a cost. Too little exercise and a lack of physical fitness in later life produces harmful consequences such as a raised level of chronic inflammation, and thus a faster progression towards all of the common and ultimately fatal age-related diseases. The fine details of our metabolism and its interaction with aging evolved in an environment of much greater regular physical exertion, all the way into later life, than is presently the case. When we fail to keep up with that level exercise, we suffer in its absence.
Increased basal low-grade inflammation is observed with advancing age, which is augmented by physical inactivity. However, data regarding the influence of lifelong exercise training and particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on inflammatory mediators in older men are scarce. Therefore, we examined effects of 6 weeks of aerobic preconditioning followed by 6 weeks of HIIT on inflammatory mediators - interleukin (IL)-6, homocysteine, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) - in previously sedentary older men (SED) and masters athletes (LEX). Further, we investigated whether SED exhibited greater basal inflammatory biomarkers compared to LEX.
Twenty-two men (aged 62 ± 2 years) participated in the SED group, while 17 age-matched LEX men (aged 60 ± 5 years) also participated as a positive comparison group. In SED, preconditioning and HIIT caused a reduction in IL-6 compared to enrollment. SED homocysteine did not change throughout, while the decrease in hsCRP after preconditioning and after HIIT compared to enrollment was small. HIIT did not influence IL-6 or hsCRP in LEX. Homocysteine increased from enrollment to post-HIIT in LEX, but all other perturbations were trivial. IL-6 and hsCRP were greater in SED than LEX throughout the investigation, but homocysteine was not different.
Results of this study suggest moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and HIIT lowers IL-6 (and possible hsCRP) in previously sedentary older men. Moreover, lifelong exercise is associated with reduced concentrations of some inflammatory biomarkers in older males, and therefore, physical inactivity, rather than age per se, is implicated in chronic low-grade inflammation. Moreover, physical inactivity-induced inflammation may be partly salvaged by short-term exercise training.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3...hys.2021.702248
View the full article at FightAging
