Moderate-intensity regular exercise decreases serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and HbA1c levels in healthy women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of moderate-intensity regular exercise on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and glucose and lipid metabolism parameters.


METHODS
Longitudinal intervention study of a 5 month exercise training program (30-45 min/day, 4-5 days/week).


METHODS
Forty-one healthy Japanese women aged 41-69 y at baseline; 27 participants in the exercise program.


METHODS
Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), percentage body fat, and fasting levels for serum TNF-alpha, serum soluble TNF receptor p55 (TNF-RI) and TNF receptor p75 (TNF-RII), serum lipids, HbA1c, and serum insulin before and after exercise.


RESULTS
In overweight to obese subjects, serum levels of TNF-alpha, TNF-RI and TNF-RII were significantly higher than those in lean subjects. There were significant correlations between log serum TNF-alpha and BMI, percentage body fat, WHR, HbA1c and log insulin. TNF-RI was significantly correlated with BMI, percentage body fat, WHR and HbA1c. TNF-RII was also associated with BMI, percentage body fat and WHR. However, the correlation between TNF-RII and HbA1c did not reach statistical significance. Neither TNF-RI nor TNF-RII was correlated with log insulin. In contrast, TNF-alpha, TNF-RI and TNF-RII were negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol. Regular exercise decreased BMI, percentage body fat, HbA1c, serum TNF-alpha, TNF-RI and TNF-RII and increased HDL cholesterol levels. In addition, exercise-induced change in serum TNF-alpha was independently correlated with changes in HbA1c and serum insulin, after being adjusted for the change in fat-free mass.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in serum TNF-alpha that occur with exercise may play an important role in improving glucose metabolism parameters.
Tsukui
S
S
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. kanda@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
Kanda
T
T
Nara
M
M
Nishino
M
M
Kondo
T
T
Kobayashi
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007564:Japan; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D012016:Reference Values; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha