Effects of home-based bench step exercise on inflammatory cytokines and lipid profiles in elderly Japanese females: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week home-based bench step exercise program on inflammatory cytokines and lipid profiles in elderly females. MethodsSixty-two postmenopausal females (65–85 years of age) were randomized to either the bench step exercise group (n=31) or the control group (n=31). The subjects in the bench step exercise group were instructed to perform bench step exercises at the exercise intensity corresponding to lactate threshold (LT), three times per day 10–20min each session, for a goal of ≥140min/week at home for 12 weeks. At baseline and 12 weeks, circulating levels of nine inflammatory cytokines (high-molecular-weight adiponectin, interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], TNF-β and interferon-γ [IFN-γ]) and serum lipids including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured. ResultsThe bench step training at the LT significantly increased HDL-C levels and decreased IFN-γ concentrations in the subjects with lower (< 63mg/dL) baseline HDL-C levels (p<0.05). The change in IFN-γ inversely correlated with the change in HDL-C in the exercise group (ρ=−0.56, p<0.01), whereas this association was not observed in the control group. Additionally, principal component analysis-derived index of what we called “inflammatory status factor” was inversely associated with the changes in HDL-C in the exercise group. ConclusionThe bench step exercise-induced reduction in the IFN-γ levels may partially explain the degree of improvement in the HDL-C levels with the exercise program.