Prospective association of physical activity and inflammatory biomarkers in older adults from the PREDIMED-Plus study with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND

There is limited prospective evidence on the association between physical activity (PA) and inflammation in older adults. Our aim was to assess the associations between changes in PA and changes in the inflammatory profile in older individuals who are overweight or obese.

METHODS

This prospective study included 489 men and women, aged 55-75 years, from the PREDIMED-Plus trial. Levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), interleukin 18 (IL-18), monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1), C-peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin, and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted chemokine (RANTES) were obtained from fasting blood samples and a composite inflammatory score based on these biomarkers was calculated. Physical activity was measured by a validated questionnaire. All measures were taken at baseline and one-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Multiple linear regression models showed an association between an increase in total PA and a decrease in the inflammatory score (p = 0.012), which was particularly driven by a decrease in C-peptide (p = 0.037). Similarly, the inflammatory score decreased with increasing moderate PA (p = 0.001), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Increases in total PA, moderate and moderate-to-vigorous PA were associated with a decrease in the inflammatory profile of obese or overweight older individuals. This finding is relevant for PA recommendations and public health strategies.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY

Clinical trial identifier: International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial 89898870.