Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Science and Sports, cilt.19, sa.3, ss.130-135, 2004 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Aim. - This study aimed to examine the association between active vs. inactive lifestyle and cellular and humoral immune system in the elderly. Methods. - Eleven elderly male athletes (mean age ± S.D.: 67.1 ± 6.0 year) performing regular aerobic exercise for about 38.8 ± 18.5 yeasr (4.4 ± 1.4 d week-1; 10.0 ± 8.1 h week-1) and eleven male individuals at similar ages (mean age ± S.D.: 64.9 ± 4.6 year) leading a sedentary life were taken as control group. Immunological assessments were total leukocyte count, lymphocyte subpopulation, natural killer percentages, and IgA, IgG, and IgM concentrations. Results. - Baseline NK cell percentage, and serum IgA and IgM concentrations of master athletes were significantly higher than those of control group (29.3 ± 12.8% vs. 20.0 ± 7.5%; 2.4 ± 0.66 g/l vs. 1.6 ± 0.63 g/l; 1.0 ± 0.47 g/l vs. 0.58 ± 0.31 g/l, respectively; P < 0.05). No statistical differences were obtained in the total leukocyte counts and neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and the percentages of total T cells, B cells and T cell subsets (CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells), and IgG levels of the two groups. Conclusion. - Habitual exercise training may cause a slow down in the age-related decline in NK cell percentages and serum IgA and IgM levels of the elderly. © 2003 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.