Effects of intensified training and taper on immune function (original) (raw)

Journal of Applied Physiology, 2007

Regular moderate exercise is associated with a reduced incidence of infection compared with a completely sedentary state. However, prolonged bouts of strenuous exercise cause a temporary depression of various aspects of immune function (e.g., neutrophil respiratory burst, lymphocyte proliferation, monocyte antigen presentation) that usually lasts ∼3–24 h after exercise, depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise bout. Postexercise immune function dysfunction is most pronounced when the exercise is continuous, prolonged (>1.5 h), of moderate to high intensity (55–75% maximum O2 uptake), and performed without food intake. Periods of intensified training (overreaching) lasting 1 wk or more may result in longer lasting immune dysfunction. Although elite athletes are not clinically immune deficient, it is possible that the combined effects of small changes in several immune parameters may compromise resistance to common minor illnesses, such as upper respiratory tract inf...

Immune response to changes in training intensity and duration in male athletes

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The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of exercise at 85% VO2max (30min) with prolonged exercise at a lower work rate (60% VO2max for up to1.5 h) on blood leukocyte count and the percent blood leukocyte subsets in young men athletes. Fifteen athlete male university students (mean ± SD age 22.3±2.6 yr, weight 65.5±5.72 Kg and height 174.2±3.64 cm) participated in this study. After physical examinations, subjects performed Running on an electrically treadmill at 85% VO2max (30 min). On another occasion, separated by at least one week, subjects performed exercise on the same treadmill at 60% VO2max for 1.5 hour. Blood samples were collected from a peripheral arm vein before and immediately after exercise sessions, and served for determination of total and differential leukocyte counts. The acquired data were analyzed by MedCalc software and using t-tests. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Both exercise bouts caused significant (p<0.05) elevations of the blood leukocyte count. Mean blood leukocyte count were increased from 6.4±0.79 to10.26±3.3 and 6.32±0.75 to 9.85±2 (×10 6 /ml) after exercise at the 60% VO2max (1.5 h) and 85% VO2max (30min) respectively. After exercise at the lower work rate for a longer duration, blood monocytes (1.25%) and neutrophil percent (11%) were significantly higher and blood lymphocytes (11.75%) were significantly lower than those observed at 80% VO2max. However, No significant differences were observed in the blood monocytes percent after the both exercise bouts (p<0.05). The results showed that when exercise is very prolonged, the diminution of innate immune function is greater, than or at least as great as that observed after fatiguing exercise at higher work rates. The sum of acute responses observed in this study may exert a protective effect against sickness and may be used to improve health and lifespan in athletes.

Immune Responses To An Acute Maximal Exercise Changes During A Training Cycle In Swimming: 1533: Board# 66 June 1 2: 00 PM-3: 30 PM

2011

In endurance sports, cycles of high training volume are implemented in order to optimize aerobic and movement economy adaptations. This leads to transient imbalances between training loads and recovery contributing to the onset of fatigue and sometimes illness in highly trained athletes. The well-established interdependence between substrate depletion, hormonal and immune functions elicits usually a immunodepression state as response to hard training periods. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of two subsequent training cycles of different load quantitative and intensity characteristics on the response of systemic and mucosal immunity to a maximal swimming bout. METHODS: 6 well-trained male swimmers (18±2.2 yrs; 177±6.3 cm; 67±5.3 Kg) performed an incremental maximal step test (7x200 m front crawl) in 3 moments of the season: M1 -after a recovery microcycle, M2 -after a 5 week period of aerobic overload (volume increased by 20%) and M3 -after 8 weeks of progressively decreasing volume and higher intensities. Blood and saliva samples were collected before (6:30 a.m.) and 5 min after, for the determination of leukocyte and total lymphocyte and subpopulations (CD3 + , CD4 + , CD8 + , CD19 + and CD16 + ) counts by flow cytometry; serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration by cytometric bead array and salivary IgA (s-IgA) concentrations by ELISA. s-IgA secretory rate (sr-IgA) was calculated from s-IgA values. ANOVA for repeated measures was used for the assessment of training effect. The level of significance was set at p<.05.

Training strategies to maintain immunocompetence in athletes

International journal of sports medicine, 2000

Clinical experience and empirical evidence have led to the modeling of exercise and training as a form of stress on the immune system. Coaches, athletes, and medical personnel are seeking guidelines on ways to reduce the risk of illness that compromises training or competitive performance. The immune system is influenced by a wide range of physical, environmental, psychological, and behavioural factors which, combined with clinical assessment, collectively form the basis of the following intervention strategies: 1) training: careful management of training volume and intensity, variety to overcome training monotony and strain, a periodised approach to increasing loads, and provision of adequate rest and recovery periods; 2) environmental: limiting initial exposure when training or competing in adverse environmental conditions (heat, humidity, altitude, air pollution) and acclimatising where appropriate; 3) psychological: teaching athletes self-management and coping skills and monitor...

THE EFFECTS OF STRENUOUS EXERCISE AND NUTRITION ON THE IMMUNE FUNCTIONS OF ELITE ATHLETES

The intense activities carried out by athletes result in them undergoing acute and chronic stress and this in turn will suppress their immune system as well as increase their oxidative species generation. On top of that, these athletes has a tendency to consume less calories than what is needed and they also have a tendency to avoid consuming fats, and the latter action may affect their immune system and anti-oxidant mechanisms. The stress caused by the exercise is dependent upon how intense the exercise is and its duration, and it is relative to the athlete's maximum capacity. The depletion of glycogen in the muscles affects the performance of the exercise as well as increases the stress. However, the glycogen stores can be protected if there is an increase in fat oxidation (glycogen sparing). Athletes should have balanced diets whereby the total calories consumed is the same as that expended and the carbohydrates and fats that are utilized must be replenished. However, many athletes fail to meet these important basic criteria thus compromising their glycogen or fat stores, and do not consume sufficient essential fats and micronutrients which are required to maintain their intense exercise, immune competence and anti-oxidant defense. Over-training or malnourishment may result in an increased risk of infections. In some cases, the intake of micronutrient supplements may strengthen the immune system and make up for the deficiency of the essential nutrients. Any nutrient deficiencies in the athletes' diet must be compensated with nutritional supplements, but it must not be over compensated. If the above-mentioned rules are complied with and the training are properly regulated so that there is no overtraining, the immune system can be maintained at the optimal level and this in turn will reduce the risk of diseases. .

Immune Responses To An Acute Maximal Exercise Changes During A Training Cycle In Swimming

Effect of 8 Weeks Endurance Training on Immune System Cell Changes with Recovery Period

Physical activity and Exercise training is a stressful stimulus that induces changes and adaptation in many organs such as skeletal system, endocrine system, pulmonary system, cardiovascular system, immune system and other organs. The immune system is a defense network that plays an important role in human. Research on topic of exercise immunology area (physical activity and immune system function), approximately began from 1900. Numerous papers in this area were written. Bryan et al. (2001) reported that more than 600 papers on exercise and immune system published in pub med until 2001. 1 And we fund about 3000 paper on exercise and immune system in pub med from 1900 to 2011. Our research in pub med showed that 524 paper of these papers was review paper that publication by famous researchers. Recently different study demonstrated that, the relation between exercise and immune function was favorite area for researcher. Varieties of published data suggest that immune system function changed after physical activity. Immune system divided into subset, the innate immune and the adaptive immune. Malaguarnera et al (2008), demonstrating that, different componesent of immune system activated against pathogens and also act as the first defense. 2 Regular physical activity is beneficial for general health. The protective and therapeutic effects of physical activity or exercise and training on several diseases (e.g. cardiac disease, diabetes, and hypertension) are well known. 3 Type, intense and duration of exercise and physical activity effect on immune system and also alter the immune system response. In this area, Buttner et al. (2007) has suggested that intense training induce decrease in immune system components. Whereas this components increase after moderate exercise. 3

Performance Enhancement With Maintenance of Resting Immune Status After Intensified Cycle Training

Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 2002

Background: Unaccustomed intense endurance exercise is associated with short-term suppression of natural immunity. However, it is not established whether intensified endurance training alters resting immune status or increases the risk of upper respiratory infection (URI). Purpose: This study examined the effect of intensified endurance training for performance enhancement on resting immune status in nine healthy, male competitive cyclists. Design: Data were collected during 4 weeks of usual training (baseline), followed by prescribed cycle training that consisted of volume-building at customary training intensity (V phase, 6 weeks), unaccustomed very high intensity interval training at 100% maximal heart rate (I phase, 18 days), and an unloading taper (U phase, 10 days). Methods: The main performance criterion was a simulated 20 km time-trial. Aerobic capacity measures included power output at ventilatory threshold (POT vent) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max). Markers of immune status (lymphocyte subset counts, serum cytokine levels, and new URI cases) and physiological indicators of training stress (cycling economy, 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion, and serum testosterone concentration) were evaluated in the rested state, 36 to 44 hours postexercise, during baseline, and after each training phase. Results: Time-trial performance, POT vent , VO 2max , and cycling economy improved significantly (p < 0.001) after the V phase, and remained higher than baseline (p < 0.001) after the I and U phases. As compared with the V phase, performance time was faster after the U phase (p < 0.01). In contrast, lymphocyte counts, cytokine levels, incidence of URI, cortisol excretion, and serum testosterone concentration were not significantly different from baseline in any phase. Conclusions: Cycling efficiency and performance improved while resting immune status was maintained throughout the 10-week training program. This study provides encouraging data in support of immunological robustness during intensified endurance training.

Training Load, Immune Status, and Clinical Outcomes in Young Athletes: A Controlled, Prospective, Longitudinal Study

Frontiers in Physiology, 2018

Introduction: Beside positive effects on athlete's health, competitive sport can be linked with an increased risk of illness and injury. Because of high relative increases in training, additional physical and psychological strains, and an earlier specialization and professionalization, adolescent athletes needs an increased attention. Training can alter the immune system by inducing a temporary immunosuppression, finally developing infection symptoms. Previous studies identified Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) as potential indicator for the immune status. In addition to the identification of triggering risk factors for recurrent infections, the aim was to determine the interaction between training load, stress sense, immunological parameters, and clinical symptoms. Methods: A controlled, prospective, longitudinal study on young athletes (n = 274, mean age: 13.8 ± 1.5 yrs) was conducted between 2010 and 2014. Also 285 controls (students, who did not perform competitive sports, mean age: 14.5 ± 1.9 yrs) were recruited. Athletes were examined 3 times each year to determine the effects of stress factors (training load: training hours per week [Th/w]) on selected outcome parameters (clinical [susceptibility to infection, WURSS-21: 21-item Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey], immunological, psychological end points). As part of each visit, EBV serostatus and EBV-specific IgG tiers were studied longitudinally as potential immune markers. Results: Athletes (A) trained 14.9 ± 5.6 h weekly. Controls (C) showed no lower stress levels compared to athletes (p = 0.387). Twelve percent of athletes reported recurrent infections (C: 8.5%, p = 0.153), the presence of an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) was achieved in 30.7%. EBV seroprevalence of athletes was 60.3% (C: 56.6%, p = 0.339). Mean EBV-specific IgG titer of athletes was 166 ± 115 U/ml (C: 137 ± 112 U/ml, p = 0.030). With increasing Th/w, higher stress levels were observed (p < 0.001). Analyzes of WURSS-21 data revealed no relationship to training load (p = 0.323). Also, training load had no relation to EBV serostatus (p = 0.057) or the level of EBV-specific IgG titers (p = 0.364). Discussion: Young elite athletes showed no increased sense of stress, no higher prevalence of recurrent infections, and no different EBV-specific serological parameters Blume et al. Immune Status in Young Athletes compared to controls. Also, no direct relationship between training loads, clinical complaints, and EBV-specific immune responses was found. With increasing training loads athletes felt more stressed, but significant associations to EBV-specific serological parameters were absent. In summary, EBV serostatus and EBV-specific IgG titers do not allow risk stratification for impaired health. Further investigations are needed to identify additional risk factors and immune markers, with the aim to avoid inappropriate strains by early detection and following intervention.

Immune responses, upper respiratory illness symptoms, and load changes in young athletes during the preparatory period of the training periodization

Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the immunological responses and the association between variation in exercise load and self-reported occurrence of upper respiratory illness (URI) symptoms in young basketball athletes. Materials and methods: The sample was composed of twelve young male athletes aged 12.7 ± 0.6 years, with a height of 170 ± 10 cm, body mass of 57.6 ± 12.6 kg, and fat-free mass of 18.7 ± 5.9%. Daily training and occurrences of URI symptoms were recorded. Blood samples were collected at baseline (M1) and after 8 weeks (M2) of the preparatory period of periodization training to measure total and differential leukocyte counts, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Results: There was a significant decrease in monocytes at M2 compared to M1 (P = 0.004). There were no significant alterations in total leukocytes (P = 0.07), neutrophils (P = 0.07), or lymphocytes (P = 0.09). No significant changes in plasma concentrations of TNF-α (P = 0.30) or IL-6 (P = 0.90) were found. The weekly load from week 6 was higher when compared with weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 (P , 0.05), and week 8 was the lowest when compared with week 5 (P , 0.05). Self-reported URI incidences were highest at weeks 1 and 2. Conclusion: Variations in weekly training load during the preparatory period were not correlated with changes in self-reported occurrence of URI incidences, suggesting that young athletes may have an attenuated response to exercise-induced perturbations to the immune system.

Effects of intensified training and taper on immune function (original) (raw)

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