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Endurance training reduces circulating inflammatory markers in persons at risk of coronary events: impact on plaque

Alexander Niessner1, Bernhard Richter, Martina Penka

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. alexander.niessner@meduniwien.ac.at

Atherosclerosis
|August 9, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Endurance training significantly reduces inflammatory markers like IL-8 and MMP-9 in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD). This effect is more pronounced in diabetic patients and those on statin therapy, suggesting benefits for cardiovascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Disease Research
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Inflammation Biology

Background:

  • Inflammatory pathways play a crucial role in the destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques.
  • Understanding the impact of exercise on inflammatory markers is vital for managing cardiovascular disease (CAD).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of a 12-week supervised endurance training program on circulating inflammatory markers in individuals with CAD and/or cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs).
  • To assess whether diabetes mellitus (DM) or statin use influences the changes in inflammatory markers in response to endurance training.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty-two subjects with CAD and/or CVRFs participated in a 12-week supervised endurance training program.
  • Circulating concentrations of chemokines (interleukin-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and acute phase reactants (interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) were measured before and after training.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to determine significant changes and the influence of factors like DM and statin use.

Main Results:

  • Endurance training led to significant decreases in interleukin-8 (IL-8) by 21% and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) by 5%.
  • Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) significantly decreased by 18% following the training program.
  • The reduction in IL-8 was significantly greater in diabetic patients (39% decrease), and MMP-9 reduction was more pronounced in patients taking statins (44% decrease).
  • No significant changes were observed in interleukin-6 (IL-6) or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

Conclusions:

  • Endurance training effectively reduces circulating levels of key inflammatory chemokines and MMP-9 in individuals with CAD and CVRFs.
  • These reductions may contribute to the beneficial effects of endurance training on coronary risk.
  • Patients with DM and those on statin therapy may experience particularly significant benefits from endurance training regarding these inflammatory markers.

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