Daily Intake of Fermented Milk Containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota (Lcs) Modulates Systemic and Upper Airways Immune/Inflammatory Responses in Marathon Runners.

BACKGROUND: Although Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) can benefit the immune status, the effects of LcS in the immune/inflammatory responses of marathon runners has never been evaluated. Therefore, here we evaluated the effect of daily ingestion of fermented milk containing or not LcS in the systemic and upper airway immune/inflammatory responses before and after a marathon. METHODS: Forty-two male marathon runners ingested a fermented milk containing 40 billion of LcS/day (LcS group, n = 20) or placebo (unfermented milk, n = 22) during 30 days pre-marathon. Immune/inflammatory parameters in nasal mucosa and serum, as well as concentrations of secretory IgA (SIgA) and antimicrobial peptides in saliva, were evaluated before and after fermented milk ingestion, immediately, 72 h, and 14 d post-marathon. RESULTS: Higher proinflammatory cytokine levels in serum and nasal mucosa, and also lower salivary levels of SIgA and antimicrobial peptides, were found immediately post-marathon in the placebo group compared to other time points and to LcS group. In opposite, higher anti-inflammatory levels and reduced neutrophil infiltration on nasal mucosa were found in the LcS group compared to other time points and to the placebo group. CONCLUSION: For the first time, it is shown that LcS is able to modulate the systemic and airways immune responses post-marathon.

Effects of strength and flexibility training on functional performance of healthy older people.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of stretching and/or resistive exercise, followed by detraining, on the functional status of older people. METHODS: Forty-five subjects were divided into four groups: control (CG; n=13; 66±6 years), stretching (SG; n=10; 69±6 years), resistive exercise (RG; n=13; 69±5 years), and resistive exercise and stretching (RSG; n=9; 66±5 years). The CG did not perform any exercise. The SG, RG, and RSG had warm-up sessions prior to performing lower-body exercises twice a week. The SG performed 4 repetitions of stretching. Resistive exercise was performed at a load of 65% of 10 repetitions maximum (RM) for five weeks, 70% for the next four weeks, and 75% for the last three weeks of the program. The RSG performed both exercises. Cardiorespiratory capacity was evaluated using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) at baseline, at the six- and 12-week follow-ups, and after a six-week period of detraining. Lower limb muscle strength was assessed using the stand up from a chair and sit down test (SUCSD), and blood pressure was measured using a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. The results were analyzed using ANOVA (p<0.05). RESULTS: Six weeks of training increased walking distance (6MWT) in the RG and decreased SUCSD time in the SG. However, detraining increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the RG compared to the SG. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased after six weeks in the RSG and 12 weeks in the SG. CONCLUSIONS: Six weeks of stretching or resistive training can improve the functional status of older people. Nevertheless, DBP decreased after six weeks with the combination of resistive exercise and stretching. Detraining increased SBP when resistive exercise alone was used.

Effects of strength and flexibility training on functional performance of healthy older people / Efeitos do treinamento de força e flexibilidade no desempenho funcional de idosos saudáveis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of stretching and/or resistive exercise, followed by detraining, on the functional status of older people. METHODS: Forty-five subjects were divided into four groups: control (CG; n=13; 66±6 years), stretching (SG; n=10; 69±6 years), resistive exercise (RG; n=13; 69±5 years), and resistive exercise and stretching (RSG; n=9; 66±5 years). The CG did not perform any exercise. The SG, RG, and RSG had warm-up sessions prior to performing lower-body exercises twice a week. The SG performed 4 repetitions of stretching. Resistive exercise was performed at a load of 65% of 10 repetitions maximum (RM) for five weeks, 70% for the next four weeks, and 75% for the last three weeks of the program. The RSG performed both exercises. Cardiorespiratory capacity was evaluated using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) at baseline, at the six- and 12-week follow-ups, and after a six-week period of detraining. Lower limb muscle strength was assessed using the stand up from a chair and sit down test (SUCSD), and blood pressure was measured using a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. The results were analyzed using ANOVA (p<0.05). RESULTS: Six weeks of training increased walking distance (6MWT) in the RG and decreased SUCSD time in the SG. However, detraining increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the RG compared to the SG. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased after six weeks in the RSG and 12 weeks in the SG. CONCLUSIONS: Six weeks of stretching or resistive training can improve the functional status of older people. Nevertheless, DBP decreased after six weeks with the combination of resistive exercise and stretching. Detraining increased SBP when resistive exercise alone was used.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos do alongamento e/ou exercício resistido e destreinamento na performance funcional de idosos. MÉTODOS: Quarenta e cinco sujeitos foram divididos em 4 grupos: controle (CG; n=13; 66±6 anos), alongamento (SG; n=10; 69±6 anos), resistido (RG; n=13; 69±5 anos), e resistido e alongamento (RSG; n=9; 66±5 anos). O CG não realizou exercícios. Os grupos SG, RG e RSG realizaram aquecimento seguido de exercícios para membros inferiores 2 vezes por semana. O SG realizou 4 repetições de alongamento. O exercício resistido foi realizado com carga de 65% de 10 repetições máximas (RM) durante 5 semanas, 70% nas 4 semanas seguintes e 75% nas últimas 3 semanas. O RSG realizou ambos os exercícios. Antes, após 6, 12 semanas, e após 6 semanas de destreinamento, a aptidão cardiorrespiratória foi avaliada usando o teste dos seis minutos de caminhada (6MWT), a força muscular dos membros inferiores pelo teste de sentar e levantar de uma cadeira (SUCSD) e pressão arterial sistêmica pelo esfigmomanômetro e estetoscópio. Os resultados foram comparados pela ANOVA (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: Seis semanas de treinamento aumentaram a distância percorrida (6MWT) do RG e diminuíram o tempo do SUCSD no SG. No entanto, RG aumentou a pressão arterial sistólica (SBP) após o destreinamento comparada com o SG. A pressão arterial diastólica (DBP) diminuiu após 6 semanas para o RSG e 12 semanas para o SG. CONCLUSÕES: Seis semanas de alongamento ou treinamento resistido melhorou o desempenho funcional dos idosos. Porém, a DBP diminuiu após 6 semanas, com a associação do exercício resistido com o alongamento. Já o destreinamento, aumentou a SBP em idosos que treinaram exercício resistido isolado.