Research

The effects of long-term endurance training on the immune and endocrine systems of elderly men: the role of cytokines and anabolic hormones

Milton Hideaki Arai¹ , Alberto JS Duarte² and Valéria Maria Natale¹

¹  Disciplina de Clínica Geral do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

²  Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM-56) da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

author email corresponding author email

Immunity & Ageing 2006, 3:9doi:10.1186/1742-4933-3-9

Published:	25 August 2006

Abstract

Background

a decline in immune and endocrine function occurs with aging. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of long-term endurance training on the immune and endocrine system of elderly men. The possible interaction between these systems was also analysed.

Results

elderly runners showed a significantly higher T cell proliferative response and IL-2 production than sedentary elderly controls. IL-2 production was similar to that in young adults. Their serum IL-6 levels were significantly lower than their sedentary peers. They also showed significantly lower IL-3 production in comparison to sedentary elderly subjects but similar to the youngs. Anabolic hormone levels did not differ between elderly groups and no clear correlation was found between hormones and cytokine levels.

Conclusion

highly conditioned elderly men seem to have relatively better preserved immune system than the sedentary elderly men. Long-term endurance training has the potential to decelerate the age-related decline in immune function but not the deterioration in endocrine function.