Leukocyte subpopulation responses to resistance exercise are different in men and women and affected by protein supplementation (LB800)

Abstract

Immune cells are integral to the recovery from exercise, but little is known about the effects of supplementation and sex on the immune response. Untrained men (M) (N=88) and women (W) (N=54) performed a squat exercise protocol (6 sets, 10 repetitions, 2 minutes rest between sets at 65% of 1 RM) and randomly received a supplement immediately post exercise of carbohydrate (CHO) (M=27, W=16), whey (WHY) (M=25, W=18) or soy (SOY) (M=27, W=19). Immunophenotypic analysis of leukocytes was performed before (Pre) and 15 and 60 min post exercise (PE). Comparison of sexes disregarding supplementation indicated lower CD4 T cell counts at all time points in women. CD4 T cells continuously declined in men at 15 and 60 min PE while women only decreased below Pre at 60 min PE. Monocytes increased significantly at 15 min PE in women only (M=+11%, W=+17%) but decreased significantly in both sexes at 60 min PE (M=‐21%, W=‐11%). After division by sex and supplement, monocytes were not different from Pre to 60 min PE in women in all groups, but in men monocytes decreased below Pre at 60 min PE in both CHO and SOY. B cells decreased below Pre at 60 min PE in men in all groups, but only decreased below Pre at 60 min PE in women in SOY. Granulocytes continuously increased PE in men in WHY and CHO, and in women in CHO and SOY. Sex and supplementation differentially affect leukocyte compartmentalization with the most apparent effects on monocytes.Grant Funding Source: Supported by the Dairy Research Institute