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Moderate-intensity regular exercise decreases serum tumor necrosis factor-α and HbA1c levels in healthy women

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 1207–1211 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of moderate-intensity regular exercise on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and glucose and lipid metabolism parameters.

DESIGN: Longitudinal intervention study of a 5 month exercise training program (30–45 min/day, 4–5 days/week).

SUBJECTS: Forty-one healthy Japanese women aged 41–69 y at baseline; 27 participants in the exercise program.

MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), percentage body fat, and fasting levels for serum TNF-α, serum soluble TNF receptor p55 (TNF-RI) and TNF receptor p75 (TNF-RII), serum lipids, HbA1c, and serum insulin before and after exercise.

RESULTS: In overweight to obese subjects, serum levels of TNF-α, TNF-RI and TNF-RII were significantly higher than those in lean subjects. There were significant correlations between log serum TNF-α and BMI, percentage body fat, WHR, HbA1c and log insulin. TNF-RI was significantly correlated with BMI, percentage body fat, WHR and HbA1c. TNF-RII was also associated with BMI, percentage body fat and WHR. However, the correlation between TNF-RII and HbA1c did not reach statistical significance. Neither TNF-RI nor TNF-RII was correlated with log insulin. In contrast, TNF-α, TNF-RI and TNF-RII were negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol. Regular exercise decreased BMI, percentage body fat, HbA1c, serum TNF-α, TNF-RI and TNF-RII and increased HDL cholesterol levels. In addition, exercise-induced change in serum TNF-α was independently correlated with changes in HbA1c and serum insulin, after being adjusted for the change in fat-free mass.

CONCLUSION: Changes in serum TNF-α that occur with exercise may play an important role in improving glucose metabolism parameters.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mr Y Fukumura for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan

    S Tsukui, T Kanda, M Nara, M Nishino, T Kondo & I Kobayashi

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  1. S Tsukui
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Correspondence to S Tsukui.

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Tsukui, S., Kanda, T., Nara, M. et al. Moderate-intensity regular exercise decreases serum tumor necrosis factor-α and HbA1c levels in healthy women. Int J Obes 24, 1207–1211 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801373

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