Exercise training and plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in elderly people.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of a long-term exercise intervention on two prominent biomarkers of inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)) in elderly men and women.


METHODS
Single-blind, randomized, controlled trial: The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Trial.


METHODS
The Cooper Institute, Dallas, Texas; Stanford University, Stanford, California; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.


METHODS
Four hundred twenty-four elderly (aged 70-89), nondisabled, community-dwelling men and women at risk for physical disability.


METHODS
A 12-month moderate-intensity physical activity (PA) intervention and a successful aging (SA) health education intervention.


METHODS
CRP and IL-6.


RESULTS
After adjustment for baseline IL-6, sex, clinic site, diabetes mellitus, treatment group, visit, and group-by-visit interaction, the PA intervention resulted in a lower (P=.02) IL-6 concentration than the SA intervention. Adjusted mean IL-6 at month 12 was 8.5% (0.21 pg/mL) higher in the SA than the PA group. There were no significant differences in CRP between the groups at 12 months (P=.09). Marginally significant interaction effects of the PA intervention according to baseline functional status (P=.05) and IL-6 (above vs below the median; P=.06) were observed. There was a greater effect of the PA intervention on participants with lower functional status and those with a higher baseline IL-6.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater PA results in lower systemic concentrations of IL-6 in elderly individuals, and this benefit is most pronounced in individuals at the greatest risk for disability and subsequent loss of independence.
Nicklas
Barbara J
BJ
Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, J. Paul Sticht Center on Aging, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. bnicklas@wfubmc.edu
Hsu
Fang-Chi
FC
Brinkley
Tina J
TJ
Church
Timothy
T
Goodpaster
Bret H
BH
Kritchevsky
Stephen B
SB
Pahor
Marco
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015444:Exercise; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein