title: Effects of exercise, age and gender on salivary secretory immunoglobulin A in elderly individuals.
abstract: The influence of age and gender on salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in response to moderate exercise training was studied in 158 elderly subjects. Subjects were assigned to an exercise training group (EXC: 51 males, 74 females) or a non-exercise control group (CON: 11 males, 22 females). The subjects in each group were separated into four age-gender subgroups (60-69-yr-old males, over 70-yr-old males, 60-69-yr-old females, over 70-yr-old females) and compared by age and gender. Subjects in EXC participated in exercise sessions 5-days a week for 6 months. Saliva samples were collected both before and after the study period. The SIgA secretion rates were significantly increased after training (p < 0.05) in all the age-gender subgroups of EXC (60-69 males: 41%, over 70 males: 55%, 60-69 females: 40%, over 70 females: 38%); no age- or gender-related differences were observed. On the other hand, none of the age-gender subgroups of CON showed significant changes in the SIgA secretion rate; also, there were no age- or gender-related differences. In conclusion, enhancement of mucosal immune function following regular moderate exercise training occurs in elderlies in their 60s and over 70 years, and in both, males and females.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Fuminori
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akimoto
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akama
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishijima
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kono
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory