Resistin concentration is inversely associated with objectively measured physical activity in healthy older women.

Regular physical activity (PA) has been associated with decreased risk of many chronic diseases and increased longevity among older adults. In addition, ageing has been associated with higher levels of different inflammatory biomarkers while the association between inflammatory biomarkers and PA has remained controversial. The aim of the current investigation was to examine the association between blood biomarkers and objectively assessed PA among a sample of healthy older women with different levels of PA engagement. A total of 81 healthy women were recruited. Study participants were allocated to three groups according to accelerometer-obtained PA data. Body composition was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasting blood samples were collected for the measurement of resistin, leptin, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. There were no significant differences between groups for resistin, leptin, TNFα and for CRP concentrations; however, higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) groups tended to have lower level of blood biomarker concentrations. There was a significant negative relationship between resistin and steps per day. Inverse association between leptin and MVPA was significant after controlling for age. In multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis, steps per day were the strongest independent predictor for resistin, whereas for leptin, TNFα and CRP the strongest independent predictor was whole body fat mass. In conclusion, this study demonstrated negative association between resistin concentration and steps per day. Sedentary time and light PA had no relationship with resistin, leptin, TNFα or CRP concentrations.

Associations of distinct levels of physical activity with mobility in independent healthy older women.

BACKGROUND: Older adults have twice as many disabilities and four times as many physical limitations as people <60 years of age. Positive influence of physical activity to prevent these limitations has been presented in some studies. However, the indispensable combination of physical abilities and body composition parameters to maintain independence in later life and their relationship with physical activity has not been studied thoroughly. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to determine possible differences in body composition and mobility parameters among older women with various levels of engagement in physical activity. In addition, the relationships between mobility and distinct levels of physical activity were evaluated in healthy older women. METHODS: Eighty-one healthy older women aged from 65 to 91 years participated in this study and were allocated to three groups according to weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time in 10 min bouts: highest MVPA (H-MVPA) (n = 27), middle MVPA (M-MVPA) (n = 40) and lowest MVPA (L-MVPA) (n = 14). Body composition (fat mass [FM] and fat free mass [FFM]) variables were assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), objective physical activity data were collected with accelerometers and mobility tests were carried out to assess static and dynamic balance, lower limbs strength and aerobic capacity. RESULTS: No differences in body composition parameters were observed between studied groups (p > 0.0025). Women in L-MVPA covered significantly shorter distance during the six-minute walk test (6MWT) compared to H-MVPA (p = 0.000) and M-MVPA (p = 0.003) groups, performed timed-up-and-go (TUG) slower compared to H-MVPA group (p = 0.003) and five-times-sit-to-stand (FTSTS) test slower compared to H-MVPA (p = 0.006) and M-MVPA (p = 0.009) groups. There were no differences in body composition and mobility parameters between women in H-MVPA and M-MVPA groups. Regardless of bout duration, MVPA was correlated with mobility (TUG r = -0.47; FTSTS r = -0.37; 6MWT r = 0.53) parameters, whereas no relationships was observed with light physical activity (LPA). CONCLUSION: MVPA is associated with body composition and mobility parameters, while LPA is not related to any measured body composition nor mobility parameters. Accordingly, healthy older women could benefit from MVPA to maintain body composition and mobility parameters to preserve independence in later life.

Body Composition, Neuromuscular Performance, and Mobility: Comparison Between Regularly Exercising and Inactive Older Women.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in body composition, neuromuscular performance, and mobility in healthy, regularly exercising and inactive older women, and examine the relationship between skeletal muscle indices and mobility. Overall, 32 healthy older women participated. They were divided into groups according to their physical activity history as regularly exercising (n = 22) and inactive (n = 10) women. Body composition, hand grip strength, leg extensor muscle strength, rapid force development, power output, and mobility indices were assessed. Regularly exercising women had lower fat mass and higher values for leg extensor muscle strength and muscle quality, and also for mobility. Leg extensor muscle strength and power output during vertical jumping and appendicular lean mass per unit of body mass were associated with mobility in healthy older women. It was concluded that long-term regular exercising may have beneficial effects on body composition and physical function in older women.