Effect of eight weeks of combined exercise and omega-3 supplementation on the levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in elderly women

Abstract

Abstract Exercise training and omega-3 supplementation are known to have anti-inflammatory effects; however, the simultaneous effect of exercise training and omega-3 supplementation has received little attention so far. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of combined training (resistance endurance) and omega-3 supplementation on the levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in older women. The 40 participating older adults, with an average age of 66.7 ± 4.13 years, were randomly assigned to four groups: placebo, omega-3, training and training + omega-3. Combined exercise training (consisted of 30 mins running with 40-70% of reserve heart rate and resistance training included ten exercises, two sets, and each set consisted of 18-20 repetitions) performed for eight weeks and three sessions per week. Omega-3 supplementation was 2,000 mg daily (two 1000 mg capsules, one in the morning and one at night). Blood sampling was performed in pre and post-test (48 h after the last training session and omega-3 supplementation) stages, and interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-10 levels were measured by ELISA. The dependent t-test results (pre- and post-test) indicated that there was a statistically significant difference (decrease) in HOMA-IR index, body fat percentage, body mass index, IL-6, and TNF-α in training and training + omega-3 groups, post-exercise (). TNF-α was lower in the omega-3 () training () and training + omega-3 () groups compared to the placebo group, post exercise. Moreover, IL-6 levels in the training () group were lower than in the placebo group, post exercise. Combined training may reduce both TNF-α and IL-6 compared to placebo. In contrast, omega-3 alone or combined with combined training may only reduce TNF-α but not IL-6 concentrations compared to placebo.