Effects of combined training on interleukin-7 plasma levels in obese middle-aged men
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.31e0432Keywords:
Combined training, Physical exercise, Interleukin-7, Obesity, Inflammation, MetabolismAbstract
Introduction: There are divergences about the effects of obesity on plasma concentrations of interleukin-7 (IL-7) and the role of physical exercise as a metabolic regulator of this cytokine. Objective: To compare the plasma concentrations of IL-7 between obese and normal weight individuals, in addition to evaluating the effects of combined training (CT) on concentrations of this cytokine in obese individuals. Methods: Initially, obese group (OG, n = 15) and normal weight group (NWG, n = 8) were compared. Subsequently, the obese individuals participated in a pre-post 16-week experimental period and were randomly distributed into obese CT group (OT, n = 8) and obese control group (OC, n = 7). Physical fitness, body composition, and IL-7 concentrations evaluations were performed. The CT program consisted of strength training and aerobic training in the same session. Results: A significant increase of IL-7 was observed in the OG (27.14 ± 3.64 pg/mL) compared to the NWG (21.26 ± 3.93 pg/mL) (p = 0.01). Although no significant group x time interaction was found, a time effect was observed in the pre-post experimental period on IL-7 concentrations (OC: 18.8%, ES: 1.68; OT: 28.5%, ES: 5.15). In the assessment of the effect size, a greater reduction in OT was observed. Moreover, reductions in weight, body mass index and fat mass were observed in the OT group when compared to CG, accompanied by significant increases in 1 maximum repetition test in the Leg Press and Bench Press, and maximum oxygen consumption. Conclusion: Obese individuals have higher circulating concentrations of IL-7, which suggest that elevated body weight and fat are associated with an increase in this cytokine. Although the effect size for IL-7 was larger in the OT group, probabilistic statistics did not show a significant effect.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Raphael Fernandes Fatori, Ivan Luiz Padilha Bonfante, Ana Paula Boito Remkrapes, Mara Patricia Traina Chacon-Mikahil, Diego Trevisan Brunelli, Cláudia Regina Cavaglieri
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