Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Immune function in marathon runners versus sedentary controls

D C Nieman1, K S Buckley, D A Henson

  • 1Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Applachian State University, Boone, NC, USA.

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|July 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Ajuga turkestanica increases Notch and Wnt signaling in aged skeletal muscle.

European review for medical and pharmacological sciences·2014
Same author

A-Z of nutritional supplements: dietary supplements, sports nutrition foods and ergogenic aids for health and performance--Part 33.

British journal of sports medicine·2012
Same author

Inflammation and oxidative stress are lower in physically fit and active adults.

Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2011
Same author

A-Z of nutritional supplements: dietary supplements, sports nutrition foods and ergogenic aids for health and performance: part 15.

British journal of sports medicine·2010
Same author

The variable plasma quercetin response to 12-week quercetin supplementation in humans.

European journal of clinical nutrition·2010
Same author

Relationship between salivary IgA secretion and upper respiratory tract infection following a 160-km race.

The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness·2006
Same journal

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Age-Related Decline in Kidney Function among Individuals with Preserved Kidney Health: The Aging Kidney Study.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

Objectively Measured Cardiorespiratory Fitness as a Potential Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Older Adults: Evidence from the Generation 100 Study.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

The Effects of Eight-Week Traditional Aerobic Exercise and Exergaming on Dual-Task Performance and Prefrontal Cortex Activation in Older Adults.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

The Impact of Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Cytotoxic T Cell Metabolism and Function.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

Female Athletes Through the Lifespan: Clinical Considerations and a Call for Comprehensive Sports Medicine Healthcare.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same journal

Artificial Intelligence in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
See all related articles

Marathon runners exhibit enhanced natural killer cell cytotoxic activity (NKCA) compared to sedentary individuals. This increased NKCA in runners is linked to lower body fat, suggesting endurance training may boost innate immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Exercise immunology
  • Endurance sports science
  • Innate immune function

Background:

  • Endurance athletes often display altered immune profiles.
  • The impact of marathon running on specific immune cell functions, like natural killer cell activity, requires further investigation.
  • Understanding these adaptations is crucial for both athletic performance and health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare immune cell function, specifically natural killer cell cytotoxic activity (NKCA) and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, between marathon runners and sedentary controls.
  • To explore correlations between physiological factors (body fat, age) and immune responses in these groups.

Main Methods:

  • Comparison of 22 experienced marathon runners with 18 sedentary controls.
  • Assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), body composition, and leukocyte subsets.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Measurement of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and NKCA.
  • Statistical analysis to determine group differences and correlations.

    • Main Results:

    • Marathon runners had significantly higher VO2max and were leaner than controls.
    • NKCA was 57% higher in marathon runners compared to sedentary individuals (P = 0.02).
    • Mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation did not differ between groups.
    • Percent body fat was negatively correlated with NKCA in all subjects and in runners.
    • Age was negatively correlated with lymphocyte proliferation.

    Conclusions:

    • Marathon running is associated with significantly higher NKCA compared to a sedentary lifestyle.
    • The enhanced NKCA in runners may be partly explained by lower body fat percentage.
    • Mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation is not enhanced by marathon training.
    • Endurance exercise may positively modulate specific components of the innate immune system.