Effect of exercise therapy on monocyte and neutrophil counts in overweight women.

INTRODUCTION: It has been well known that physical inactivity is associated with a significantly higher incidence of coronary artery disease. This study aimed to test our hypothesis that endurance aerobic exercise training has cardiovascular protective effects as a result of inhibiting inflammatory processes.
METHODS: Forty-two overweight women [age, 53.4 +/- 9.8 years; body mass index (BMI), 28.0 +/- 2.8] received electric bicycle ergometer exercise therapy at the lactate threshold intensity for 30 to 60 minutes per day, 1 to 6 times per week for 6 weeks. The exercise training was performed within the possible load (exercise duration and frequency) for each subject.
RESULTS: Leukocyte, monocyte, and neutrophil counts significantly decreased after the exercise therapy (P < 0.05). In simple regression analysis, percent changes in monocyte and neutrophil counts were correlated with percent changes in fasting triglyceride levels, insulin sensitivity index, BMI, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, the percent change in monocyte counts was associated with percent changes in fasting triglyceride and VO2max (r = 0.368, P < 0.001), and the percent change in neutrophil counts was associated with percent changes in insulin sensitivity index and BMI (r = 0.292, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Endurance aerobic exercise training can influence some inflammatory processes. Furthermore, increased aerobic capacity may be antiinflammatory and have cardiovascular protective effects in overweight women.