THE EFFECTS OF ENDURANCE TRAINING AND VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON IMMUNE FUNCTION IN ELDERLY WOMEN 1692

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of endurance training and vitamin supplementation on selected parameters of immune function. Participants self selected to either an exercise (E) group or a non-exercise group (NE) and then were randomly assigned to either a vitamin group (V) or a placebo group (P). EV (n=8) (age = 76 ± 1) and EP (n=8)(age = 76 ± 3) walked at 70% HRR 3d/wk, starting at 20 minutes and increasing by 5 minutes per day until they reached 50 minutes, for 10 wk. NEV(n=8) (age = 77 ± 2) and NEP (n=8) (age = 79 ± 3) maintained normal activity. All subjects took either a Theragran M tablet (V) or a lactose filled placebo (P) once a day for 10 wk (compliance=99%). Blood samples were obtained from all groups at rest, and from EP and EV after 20 minutes of walking at 70% HRR and after 2 h recovery. The same sampling procedures were followed after 10 weeks of endurance training. Lymphocyte subsets were determined by direct immunofluorescence using flow cytometry. Lymphocyte proliferative response to mitogen (LP) and natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity (NCMC) were assessed using whole blood assays. CD3-/CD16+/CD56+(NK) cell numbers were significantly lower for EV post training compared to pre training. Percent CD3+ cells were significantly lower post training than pre training for NEV, while percent CD3+/CD8+ cells were significantly lower and percent NK cells significantly higher post training than pre training for EV. Neither acute exercise or training resulted in any differences in LP at either Con A 10 or Con A 40. NCMC was significantly higher in EV and EP pre to post exercise both before and after training. After training it remained significantly elevated at 2 h post exercise. In conclusion, ten weeks of endurance training resulted in significant decreases in CD3-/CD16+/CD56+ cell numbers and CD3+/CD8+ cell percents. NCMC was elevated post exercise and remained elevated at the 2 hour mark post training. LP was unaffected.