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Exercise during late-follicular menstrual phase: influence on immune parameters
L E Bouillon1, M G Flynn, C P Lambert
1University of Findlay, Findlay, OH 45840, USA.
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
|April 6, 2006
Summary
Training status and hormones like estradiol affect immune cells during exercise. While some immune markers changed transiently, both trained and recreationally active women showed similar responses to exercise and rest.
Area of Science:
- Exercise immunology
- Endocrinology
- Sports science
Background:
- Immune function can be influenced by exercise and hormonal fluctuations.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for athletes and active individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of training status and key plasma hormones on immune indexes during and after acute exercise.
- To analyze hormonal and immune responses in trained versus recreationally active females.
Main Methods:
- Seven female triathletes (TRI) and seven recreationally active females (REC) participated.
- Participants underwent rest (RE) and exercise (EX) trials during the late-follicular phase.
- Blood samples were collected at baseline, 1 hour, and 3 hours post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) correlated with specific immune cell populations (CD19+, CD8+).
- Exercise induced transient changes in immune cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD3- CD16+ CD56+) and natural killer cell activity (NCMC).
- Luteinizing hormone (LH) remained elevated post-exercise in the recreationally active group.
Conclusions:
- Hormonal levels (E2, P) showed correlations with immune cell changes.
- Despite transient exercise-induced immune alterations and hormonal shifts, training status did not significantly differentiate the overall hormonal and immune responses between groups.
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