Combined Exercise Training and l-Glutamine Supplementation Enhances Both Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses after Influenza Virus Vaccination in Elderly Subjects.

BACKGROUND

Since aging affects the immune responses against vaccination, the present study evaluated the effects of L-glutamine (Gln) supplementation in the humoral and cellular immune responses in elderly subjects, practitioners or not, of physical exercise training.

METHODS

Eighty-four elderly people (aged 72.6 ± 6.1), non-practitioners (NP, = 31), and practitioners of combined-exercise training (CET, = 53) were submitted to Influenza virus vaccination and supplemented with Gln (0.3 g/kg of weight + 10 g of maltodextrin, groups: NP-Gln ( = 14), and CET-Gln ( = 26)), or placebo (10 g of maltodextrin, groups: NP-PL ( = 17), and CET-PL ( = 27)). Blood samples were collected pre (baseline) and 30 days post-vaccination and supplementation.

RESULTS

Comparing with the baseline values, whereas the NP-Gln and CET-PL groups showed higher specific-IgM levels, the CET-Gln group showed higher specific-IgM and IgA levels post-vaccination. The titer rate of hemagglutination inhibition was higher in the CET-Gln, NP-PL, and NP-Gln groups post-vaccination than baseline values. The absolute number of naive and effector CD4+ T cells was higher especially in the NP-Gln and CET-Gln groups, whilst activated CD4+ T cells were higher in CET subgroups post-vaccination.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that both l-glutamine supplementation and combined-exercise training can improve the immune responses to the Influenza virus vaccine in elderly subjects.