1. ^*Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System
2. ^†Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Correspondence: Heather K. Vincent Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia, PO Box 801004, 545 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22908-1004. E-mail: hvincent@adelphia.net

^*The costs of publication of this article were defrayed, in part, by the payment of page charges. This article must, therefore, be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 12 September 2005; Accepted 4 August 2006.

Abstract

Objective: To compare exercise-induced oxidative stress and levels of homocysteine and cholesterol in normal-weight and overweight older adults after resistance exercise (RX).

Research Methods and Procedures: This interventional study was conducted at a wellness center. Forty-nine older adults (age range, 60 to 72 years) were stratified by BMI (<25 kg/m² normal weight, 25 kg/m² overweight/obese) and then randomly assigned to either a control non-exercise group or an RX group. The RX group completed a 6-month training program. Exercise-induced lipid hydroperoxides (PEROXs) and thiobarbituric-reactive acid substances, homocysteine, lipoprotein a, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured before and after the 6-month RX program.

Results: PEROXs and thiobarbituric-reactive acid substances were lower in both the overweight/obese and normal-weight RX-trained groups compared with control groups (p < 0.05). Homocysteine levels were lower in both overweight/obese and normal-weight RX groups compared with control groups (p < 0.05). Lipoprotein a, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not different in normal-weight and overweight/obese groups before or after RX. The change in muscle strength was correlated with homocysteine at 6 months (r = - 0.452, p < 0.05), whereas the change in PEROXs was correlated with the change in body fat (r = - 0.329).

Discussion: To our knowledge, these data are the first to show that RX reduces exercise-induced oxidative stress and homocysteine regardless of adiposity, indicating that this protection can be afforded in an older, overweight/obese population as effectively as in healthy older adults. These data suggest that RX may afford some protection against emerging cardiovascular risk factors using a mode of exercise that supports body weight.