Inflammatory marker changes in a 24-month dietary and physical activity randomised intervention trial in postmenopausal women

Longitudinal associations of physical activity with inflammatory markers in US adults with and without type 1 diabetes

AIMS

To investigate the longitudinal associations of different levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with C-reactive protein (CRP), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and fibrinogen.

METHODS

We conducted longitudinal analyses with data from the Coronary Artery Calcification in T1D (CACTI) cohort, which included individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D, n = 563) and without diabetes mellitus (non-DM, n = 692) with ∼ 3 years follow-up. Individuals were divided into groups to perform two analyses: 1) those who performed any MVPA and those who were sedentary (0 mins/week) and 2) those who performed 1-149 mins/week, ≥150 mins/week, or who were sedentary. Mixed effect models with an unstructured covariance structure were applied.

RESULTS

Compared to sedentary individuals, any MVPA was associated with a -2.96 % decrease in fibrinogen (p-value = 0.0043) and a -11.23 % decrease in PAI-1 (p-value = 0.0007) in combined analyses. Stratified analyses found 1-149 mins/week and ≥ 150 mins/week were associated with significant decreases in fibrinogen, -5.31 % and -3.44 %, respectively, in those with T1D. Both the non-DM and T1D groups had significant decreases in PAI-1 associated with ≥ 150 mins/week (-9.11 % and -16.96 %, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight that meeting ≥ 150 mins/week of MVPA is inversely associated with inflammatory markers linked with increased CVD risk.

Long-term exercise training and inflammatory biomarkers in healthy subjects: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective

This meta-analysis investigated the effect of long-term exercise training (ET) including aerobic, resistance, and multicomponent ET on the levels of inflammatory biomarkers in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving healthy subjects.

Methods

We searched seven databases for articles until May 1st, 2023. A random-effect meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, meta-regressions as well as trim and fill method were conducted using STATA 16.0.

Result

Thirty-eight studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 2,557 healthy subjects (mean age varies from 21 to 86 years). Long-term ET induced significantly decreased in the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (SMD -0.16, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.03, p = 0.017), C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.06, p = 0.005), as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) (SMD -0.43, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.24, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that Long-term ET conducted for more than 12 weeks and exercise of moderate intensity had greater anti-inflammatory effects. Meta-regression analysis showed that the reduction in CRP level induced by long-term ET was weakened by increasing exercise intensity.

Conclusion

Long-term ET induced significant anti-inflammatory effects in healthy subjects. Long-term ET-induced anti-inflammatory effects were associated with exercise of moderate intensity and training conducted for more than 12 weeks.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/# myprospero, PROSPERO, identifier CRD42022346693.

Adipocytokine plasma level changes in a 24-month dietary and physical activity randomised intervention trial in postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND

Adipocytokines are signaling molecules secreted by adipose tissue contributing to the control of body fat, energy expenditure and secretion of insulin and cytokines. They have been related to the development of obesity, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Diet and physical activity (PA) may have beneficial effects on their level. We evaluated the effects of a 24-month dietary and/or PA intervention on plasma levels of adipocytokines as a secondary analysis in the DAMA (Diet, physical Activity and Mammography) trial.

METHODS

The 234 study participants (healthy postmenopausal women with high breast density, 50-69 years, non-smokers, no hormone therapy) were randomised to four arms: (1) isocaloric dietary intervention mainly based on plant-foods; (2) moderate-intensity PA intervention with at least 1 h/week of supervised strenuous activity; (3) both interventions; (4) general recommendations on healthy dietary and PA patterns. Leptin, resistin and adiponectin were measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Analyses were performed using Tobit regression.

RESULTS

After 24 months, women randomised to PA intervention (arms #2 + #3) showed significant lower level of leptin (37.5% lower) and resistin (65.6% lower) compared to the control group (arms #1 + #4). No significant differences emerged in adiponectin levels. No significant differences in leptin, resistin and adiponectin levels at follow-up emerged in women randomised to the dietary intervention (arms #1 + #3) in comparison with controls (arms #2 + #4).

CONCLUSION

This study supports the effectiveness of PA, even at moderate intensity, in improving the leptin and resistin profile in postmenopausal women.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN28492718, date of trial registration 17/05/2012.

Meta-analyses reveal serum or plasma Interleukin-6 as a biomarker for malignant ovarian neoplasia

BACKGROUND

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been implicated in various malignancies, including ovarian cancer. However, mixed results have been observed regarding IL-6 levels in different ovarian conditions. This meta-analysis was performed to determine IL-6 levels in the peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood among patients with various adnexal masses.

METHODS

Most popular English databases were searched using a predefined search formula. All studies comparing IL-6 levels in plasma, serum or peritoneal fluid of patients with benign tumors, ovarian neoplasms, and healthy controls were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.

RESULTS

5953 patients from 22 primary publications raging from 1994 to 2021 were included in the meta-analyses. A pooled IL-6 Mean Difference (MD) of 41 pg/mL for malignant tumors compared to benign ones, with a Confidence Interval (CI) between 19.8 and 62.2, a Z-score of 3.79, and statistical significance with a p = 0.0002 was observed. Pooled results for healthy versus benign ovarian conditions showed an MD of 5.45 pg/mL for serum or plasma IL-6 measurements in favor of benign tumors (CI:0.66-10.25, Z = 2.23 and p = 0.03). The analysis showed an MD for IL-6 levels of 19.59 pg/mL for healthy controls versus malignant ovarian tumors. Peritoneal fluid measurements regarding IL-6's levels showed no significant difference between benign or malignant masses.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS

Higher levels of plasma or serum IL-6 in ovarian neoplasia patients compared to benign conditions or healthy controls identify IL-6 as a discerning factor between benign or malignant ovarian tumors and a potential biomarker for ovarian malignancy.

Dietary regulations for microbiota dysbiosis among post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and T2D-associated comorbidities, such as obesity, are serious universally prevalent health issues among post-menopausal women. Menopause is an unavoidable condition characterized by the depletion of estrogen, a gonadotropic hormone responsible for secondary sexual characteristics in women. In addition to sexual dimorphism, estrogen also participates in glucose-lipid homeostasis, and estrogen depletion is associated with insulin resistance in the female body. Estrogen level in the gut also regulates the microbiota composition, and even conjugated estrogen is actively metabolized by the estrobolome to maintain insulin levels. Moreover, post-menopausal gut microbiota is different from the pre-menopausal gut microbiota, as it is less diverse and lacks the mucolytic Akkermansia and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers such as Faecalibacterium and Roseburia. Through various metabolites (SCFAs, secondary bile acid, and serotonin), the gut microbiota plays a significant role in regulating glucose homeostasis, oxidative stress, and T2D-associated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6). While gut dysbiosis is common among post-menopausal women, dietary interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics can ease post-menopausal gut dysbiosis. The objective of this review is to understand the relationship between post-menopausal gut dysbiosis and T2D-associated factors. Additionally, the study also provided dietary recommendations to avoid T2D progression among post-menopausal women.