The interaction between higher 25(OH)D concentrations and physical activity on inflammatory biomarkers: evidence from...

Vitamin D is of vital importance for bone health and also regulates inflammatory cytokines. It is possible that physical activity could influence serum 25-hidroxyvitamin D concentrations (25(OH)D), and it has been suggested that exercise can increase serum 25(OH)D concentration. We hypothesized that regular exercise enables the body to absorb and use vitamin D more effectively, leading to lower concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. This is a cross-sectional population-based study, conducted with 712 adults aged 20 to 59 years living in the urban area of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, behavioral and biochemical variables were collected. Multiple linear regression models (crude and adjusted) were used to determine associations between 25(OH)D concentration and inflammatory biomarkers. In the multiple linear regression models, it can be observed that for each unit increase in the concentration of 25(OH)D, there was an average decrease in the inflammatory biomarkers. Physical activity concentrations was considered an effect modifier of the association between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and some cytokines, and participants whose PAL was greater than 150 minutes tended to have lower concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IL-12p70 when plasma 25(OH)D concentration was increased. In conclusion, higher 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with lower concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers in Brazilian adults. Furthermore, physical activity served as a significant effect modifier of this association, enhancing the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines.