Influence Of Aerobic Exercise On Select Cytokine And Hormone Levels In Pregnant Women.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of prenatal aerobic exercise on select maternal cytokines and hormones. METHODS: Data from an ongoing, 24+ week aerobic exercise intervention trial were used. Thirty-one participants of 128 randomized to aerobic (150 min of moderate weekly aerobic exercise) or control (no exercise) groups had fasted blood samples drawn at 16 and 36 of weeks gestation and were eligible for analysis. Levels of NGF, IL-1⍺, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-⍺, IL-10, Leptin, Insulin, Glucagon and GLP-1 Active were analyzed. RESULTS: At baseline, women in the aerobic group had lower levels of TNF-⍺(p=0.01). At 36 weeks of gestation, aerobic-trained women had higher levels of IL-1⍺(p=0.04) and lower levels of IL-10 (p=0.01). No statistical differences in the change of these biomarkers were found. CONCLUSIONS: Prior to prenatal exercise, participants in the aerobic exercise group possessed lower inflammatory cytokines, however at 36 weeks of gestation, aerobic-trained women had higher levels of different inflammatory cytokines. The complexity of these biomarkers and their differing patterns of change during pregnancy may explain the null and unanticipated findings of higher inflammatory biomarkers following chronic exercise.