Post-exercise consumption of milk or Greek yogurt may support the anti-inflammatory environment following...

Following exercise, there is a transient increase in circulating inflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines). This acute inflammatory response may be modulated by post-exercise nutrition. Dairy products contain many anti-inflammatory constituents that may favourably modulate exercise-induced inflammation. This study aimed to investigate how different post-exercise nutrition strategies [milk, Greek yogurt [GY], carbohydrate [CHO], or water [no nutrition]] modulate the exercise-induced inflammatory response.

Twenty healthy recreationally active adults (12/8 F/M; age=23 ± 4.0 years; BMI: 22 ± 2.3 kg/m²) were recruited to participate in this four-arm crossover. Participants completed a high-intensity, multi-modal exercise bout consisting of plyometrics, resistance exercise and high-intensity cycling sprints. Post-exercise supplements (milk, GY, CHO, or water) were provided 5 m and 1 h post-exercise and before bed. Standardized meals and snacks were provided to participants on the day of exercise. Blood samples were collected pre-exercise, 5 m, 1 h, 4 h, and 24 h post-exercise, and plasma circulating cytokine concentrations were evaluated.

Following exercise, IL-1ra and IL-8 increased while IFN-γ decreased, regardless of post-exercise nutrition (time effects). IL-6 increased post-exercise, returning to baseline at 4 h and 24 h for males and females, respectively (time*sex interaction). TNF was higher in MILK vs. all other trials at 24 h (time*trial interaction). IL-10 was lower in CHO at 24 h vs. WATER and MILK (time*trial interaction). Further, MILK and GY had higher IL-10 at 4 h vs. CHO and WATER. The ratio of TNF/IL-10 was lower in WATER at 1 h (vs. MILK and CHO), and lower in MILK and GY at 4 h (vs. CHO) (time*trial interaction).

Together, these results illustrate that dairy consumption increases IL-10 at 4 h post-exercise (greater than CHO and WATER), leading to a more anti-inflammatory TNF/IL-10 ratio (vs. CHO), which may relate to improved exercise recovery time.