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Exercise and resistance to infection

¹Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. niemandc@appstate.edu

Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology

|December 5, 1998

Summary

Endurance athletes face higher risks of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) after intense training. Moderate exercise may reduce URTI incidence, but heavy exertion temporarily suppresses immune function, requiring further research for clinical applications.

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Area of Science:

Exercise immunology
Sports medicine
Infectious disease epidemiology

Background:

Epidemiological studies indicate endurance athletes have an increased risk of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) following heavy training and competition.
Moderate exercise training appears to reduce URTI incidence, contrasting with the effects of intense exertion.
Heavy exertion is linked to transient suppression of innate and adaptive immune system components for several hours post-exercise.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current understanding of immune system responses to heavy exertion in endurance athletes.
To explore the potential mechanisms behind exercise-induced immune suppression and its link to URTI risk.
To discuss current interventions aimed at mitigating immune changes and infection risk in athletes.

Main Methods:

Literature review of epidemiological data and immunological studies on exercise and infection.
Analysis of immune system components (innate and adaptive) affected by prolonged, intensive endurance exercise.
Examination of interventions, including nutritional and chemical, to modulate immune responses post-exercise.

Main Results:

Heavy endurance exercise temporarily suppresses key immune functions, potentially increasing susceptibility to URTIs.
The immune suppression following intense exertion is transient, lasting for several hours.
Intervention strategies like glutamine and vitamin C supplementation are being explored to reduce infection risk.

Conclusions:

The transient immune suppression following heavy exertion in endurance athletes warrants further investigation into underlying mechanisms.
Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective clinical applications to reduce URTI risk.
Targeted nutritional or chemical interventions may help attenuate exercise-induced immune changes and lower infection rates in athletes.

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