Immune responses to training: how critical is training volume?
BACKGROUND
If the volume of training undertaken is sufficient to induce a negative energy balance, the anticipated benefit of an enhanced immune response may be reduced or lost.


METHODS
33 sedentary but healthy male volunteers aged 19-29 years, recruited from the university community. A peak oxygen intake measurement (cycle ergometer) and a 60-min exercise challenge at 60% of aerobic power were performed before and after 12 wk of treatment. Total leukocytes, subsets, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD19+, and CD25+ counts (FACScan), cytolytic activity (51Cr release) and cell proliferation (PHA and PWM) were measured, with subjects assigned arbitrarily to one of three groups: light training (18 subjects, aerobic exercise at 70-85% HRmax 3 times/wk), moderate training (9 subjects, similar programme 4-5 times/wk) and control (6 subjects).


RESULTS
Groups were initially well-matched in physical and physiological terms. Training increased aerobic power (8%, light, 21% moderate training), with a loss of body mass and fat in the moderate training group. Controls showed no changes. Resting CD16+ counts increased by 27% (light training) and CD16+ CD56+ counts by 21% (moderate training), with less post-exercise suppression of counts than at recruitment. Light training also decreased CD3+ and CD4+ counts without changing the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Moderate training decreased resting CD19+ count.


CONCLUSIONS
From the viewpoint of immune function, the optimal training regimen is of low volume. Moderate training sufficient to induce a negative energy balance yields a smaller increase in numbers of non-MHC-restricted cytotoxic cells, and carries the negative consequence of diminished B cell counts.
Shore
S
S
Graduate Programme in Exercise Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada.
Shinkai
S
S
Rhind
S
S
Shephard
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013997:Time Factors
D015703:Antigens, CD