Aerobic exercise reduces systemic inflammation

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Why Aerobic Exercise Is Good For The Heart

Science Daily — Aerobic exercise is widely recognized to reduce the

risk of coronary heart disease, but until now, researchers have not

fully understood the biological mechanisms behind the effect of

exercise on cardiovascular health. Findings of a new study show how

exercise decreases inflammation, which reduces the risk of

atherosclerosis – fatty build-ups in the arteries – that cause most

cases of heart disease.

In a study led by P. Sloan, Ph.D., professor of behavioral

medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, whole blood samples

were taken from 46 healthy young adults (20-45 years old) both before

and after participating in moderate or high intensity aerobic

exercise, over a 12-week period.

The blood samples were stimulated with the infectious agent

lipopolysaccharide (LPS) – gram negative bacteria – and then analyzed

for levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) – an initial step in the

inflammatory cascade. Substantially lower levels of TNF were found

after aerobic training, in both the moderate and high intensity groups.

" These findings suggest strongly that exercise reduces the systemic

inflammation that can lead to heart disease, " said Dr. Sloan. " This

study is especially significant because the value of exercise has

never before been shown in TNF, and never in healthy adults who were

not at high-risk for heart disease. "

Findings will be presented at the American Psychosomatic Society's

Annual Meeting, March 7-10 in Budapest, Hungary.

" With the learnings gained from these findings, we plan to replicate

this work with a larger group of volunteers, " added Dr. Sloan.

In addition to Dr. Sloan, the Columbia researchers involved in this

study included A. Shapiro, M.D., E. DeMeersman, Ph.D.,

a S. McKinley, Ph.D. and Pamela D. Flood, M.D. Tracey, M.D.

of North Shore University Hospital, was also a member of the research

team.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by

Columbia University Medical Center.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070320073101.htm