title: Physical activity and immune function in elderly women.
abstract: The relationship between cardiorespiratory exercise, immune function, and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) was studied in elderly women utilizing a randomized controlled experimental design with a follow-up of 12 wk. Thirty-two sedentary, elderly Caucasian women, 67-85 yr of age, who met specific selection criteria, were randomized to either a walking or calisthenic group; 30 completed the study. Twelve highly conditioned elderly women, 65-84 yr of age, who were active in endurance competitions, were recruited at baseline for cross-sectional comparisons. Intervention groups exercised 30-40 min, 5 d.wk-1, for 12 wk, with the walking group training at 60% heart rate reserve and the calisthenic group engaging in mild range-of-motion and flexibility movements that kept their heart rates close to resting levels. At baseline, the highly conditioned subjects exhibited superior NK (119 +/- 13 vs 77 +/- 8 lytic units, P < 0.01) and T (33.3 +/- 4.9 vs 21.4 +/- 2.1 cpm x 10(-3) using PHA, P < 0.05) cell function, despite no differences in circulating levels of lymphocyte subpopulations. Twelve weeks of moderate cardiorespiratory exercise improved the VO2max of the sedentary subjects 12.6%, but did not result in any improvement in NK cell activity or T cell function. Incidence of URTI was lowest in the highly conditioned group and highest in the calisthenic control group during the 12-wk study, with the walkers in an intermediate position (chi-square = 6.36, P = 0.042). In conclusion, the highly conditioned elderly women in this study had superior NK and T cell function when compared with their sedentary counterparts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Nieman
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Henson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gusewitch
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dotson
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Butterworth
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nehlsen-Cannarella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology