Comparison Of Effects Of Continuous Training On SIgA In Elderly By Area, Sex And Age

Abstract

Moderate exercise training has been thought to improve immune function declines with age in elderly people. Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in saliva is associated with incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Few investigators have examined the effect of exercise training on SIgA in elderly subjects, what is more, no study has served elderly subjects categorized by area, sex and age. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the difference of effect of exercise training on SIgA levels in elderly subjects, by comparison according area, sex and age. METHODS Healthy elderly subjects (64 men, 111 women; age 48–82 years) performed both moderate training (resistance and endurance) twice a week for 6 months. Subjects were made demarcations according to area (T-city, T-village and O-town), sex and age. In age category, there were the under 64years group (U-64: 59.3±4.8 years), 65–74 years group (65–74: 68.9±2.8 years) and over 75 years group (O-75: 76.8±2.1 years). Saliva samples were obtained before training (PRE) and 6 months after beginning of the training (POST). SIgA concentrations were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the SIgA flow rates were calculated (SIgA concentration multiplied by saliva flow per minute). RESULTS SIgA flow rates were significantly higher during 6 months of training than before training in total elderly subjects (p<0.05). In all groups contained within each category, SIgA flow rates were significantly increased during 6 months (p<0.05). The results of SIgA flow rate in each category were following as: a). area - Not significantly difference among three areas, b). sex - Not significantly difference between male and female, c). age - At PRE, not significantly difference among three groups. At POST, U-64 group (67.5±33.6 μg/min) and 65–74 group (66.3±27.6 μg/min) were significantly higher than O-75 group (51.3±20.4 μg/min) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Regular moderate exercise training is probably due to enhance salivary secretory IgA levels in elderly subjects, regardless of area, sex and age.