Study of the C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in the elderly before and after resistance exercise training

Introduction Aging results in chronic low-grade inflammation that is associated with an increased risk for disease, poor physical functioning, and mortality. The biomarkers that are mostly related to inflammation such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are created to stimulate and activate the immune system in response to inflammation. Strategies that reduce age-related inflammation may improve the quality of life in older adults. The benefits of regular exercise for the elderly are well established, whereas less is known on the impact of low-intensity resistance exercise on this chronic low-grade inflammation in the elderly. Aim of the study To study the level of TNF-α and CRP before and after programmed resistance exercise in Egyptian elderly individuals. Patients and methods Thirty healthy elderly individuals aged 60 years or older, of both sexes, participated in 4 weeks of resistance exercise training (RET). Circulating levels of TNF-α and CRP were measured before and after the exercise training. Results This study found that both inflammatory markers, TNF-α and CRP, were statistically significantly decreased (P = 0.036, 0.009), respectively, in comparison with the previous starting level measured before the exercise in the same individuals. Conclusion There was a negative correlation between TNF-α and CRP levels and the RET, which indicated that RET represents a low-cost strategy that may reduce age-related inflammation and may thus improve the quality of life in older adults.