The effect of endurance training on serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, testosterone and cortisol in sedentary young men

Background: Given widespread deleterious health effects of an augmented inflammatory state, identification of therapies that reduce inflammation is critical. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of 10 weeks endurance training on pro-inflammatory cytokines and their relationships with cortisol and testosterone hormones in sedentary young men.

Methods: Twenty sedentary men (age, 20-30 yr), volunteers to participant in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups of endurance training (n=11) and control (n=9) group. Blood sample were collected before and after 5 and 10 weeks from intervention, and the concentrations of TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6, cortisol and testosterone were measured. Endurance training included 30 min cycling on ergometer at 70% maximal heart rate, which was then increasingly changed to 50 min at 80% maximal heart rate in week 10.

Results: Endurance training increased VO2max, and decreased body fat percent (P<0.05),  but concentrations of TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6, Cortisol and testosterone did not changed (P>0.05). In addition, Pearson’s correlation indicated no relationships between changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations and changes in hormones and body fat percent (P>0.05).

Conclusion: These results indicated that, 10 weeks endurance training has no significant effect on baseline pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations and their relationships with cortisol and testosterone in sedentary young men.