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. 2013 Nov-Dec;134(11-12):531-40.
doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2013.11.004. Epub 2013 Nov 25.

Life-long endurance exercise in humans: circulating levels of inflammatory markers and leg muscle size

U R Mikkelsen  1 , C Couppé  2 , A Karlsen  2 , J F Grosset  3 , P Schjerling  2 , A L Mackey  2 , H H Klausen  4 , S P Magnusson  2 , M Kjær  2
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Life-long endurance exercise in humans: circulating levels of inflammatory markers and leg muscle size

U R Mikkelsen et al. Mech Ageing Dev. 2013 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Human aging is associated with a loss of skeletal muscle and an increase in circulating inflammatory markers. It is unknown whether endurance training (Tr) can prevent these changes. Therefore we studied 15 old trained (O-Tr) healthy males and, for comparison, 12 old untrained (O-Un), 10 Young-Tr (Y-Tr) and 12 Young-Un (Y-Un). Quadriceps size, VO2 peak, CRP, IL-6, TNF-α and its receptors, suPAR, lipid profile, leucocytes and glucose homeostasis were measured. Tr was associated with an improved insulin profile (p<0.05), and lower leucocyte (p<0.05) and triglyceride levels (p<0.05), independent of age. Aging was associated with poorer glucose control (p<0.05), independent of training. The age-related changes in waist circumference, VO2 peak, cholesterol, LDL, leg muscle size, CRP and IL-6 were counteracted by physical activity (p<0.05). A significant increase in suPAR with age was observed (p<0.05). Most importantly, life-long endurance exercise was associated with a lower level of the inflammatory markers CRP and IL-6 (p<0.05), and with a greater thigh muscle area (p<0.05), compared to age-matched untrained counterparts. These findings in a limited group of individuals suggest that regular physical endurance activity may play a role in reducing some markers of systemic inflammation, even within the normal range, and in maintaining muscle mass with aging.

Keywords: Aging; C-reactive protein; CRP; Cytokines; HDL; HOMA-IR; IL-6; IPAQ; International Physical Activity Questionnaire; LDL; Low-grade inflammation; MET; MRI; Master athletes; OGTT; Q-CSA; QUICKI; Skeletal muscle mass; TNF-α; Tr; Un; VO(2) peak; high density lipoprotein; homeostatic model assessment – insulin resistance; interleukin 6; low density lipoprotein; magnetic resonance image; metabolic equivalent of task; oral glucose tolerance test; peak oxygen consumption; quadriceps cross sectional area; quantitative insulin sensitivity check index; sTNFR; soluble TNF receptor; soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor; suPAR; trained; tumor necrosis factor alpha; untrained.

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