title: Immunological patterns during regular intensive training in athletes: quantification and evaluation of a preventive pharmacological approach.
abstract: The effects of regular intensive exercise training on immune system homeostasis and the potential value of treatment with an immunostimulating agent were assessed in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. A total of 60 athletes were studied over a 3-month period of regular intensive physical activity. After 1 and 3 months there were significant decreases in the immunoglobulin levels in the whole athlete population compared with baseline values. Specifically there were significant decreases in immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G (G1 and G2 subclasses). There was also a significant decrease in natural killer cells and a slight but significant increase in B and T lymphocytes. In the thymomodulin-treated group, unlike the placebo group, there was no significant decrease in the immunoglobulin G2 subclass and there was a significant increase in the T-helper cell subpopulation. The clinical relevance of these immunological findings should be evaluated in larger clinical and epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: F.C. Internazionale, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Garagiola
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buzzetti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cardella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Confalonieri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giani
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Polini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montanari
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grossi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D013177:Sports; D013949:Thymus Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013949:Thymus Extracts; C051006:thymomodulin