Abstract
Background: Increasing body mass index (BMI) and age predispose one to cardiometabolic disorders and their complications. Cardiometabolic disorders and their complications are associated with excessive inflammation leading to further exacerbation. Regular moderate exercise modulates inflammatory processes. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine which protects against excessive inflammation. We assessed the plasma levels of IFN-γ after different grades of exercise in normal healthy individuals with variable BMI and age.

Aims and Objective: To study the behavior of plasma IFN-γ with graded exercise in individuals with varied BMI and age.

Materials and Methods: A total of 40 healthy volunteers (21 males and 19 females) between the ages of 18 and 35 years were enlisted into the study. Each volunteer performed a bout of moderate exercise, a bout of severe exercise, and 1 month regular moderate exercise under supervision. Mean and standard deviation (SD) of BMI was 22.26 ± 3.3 kg/m2. BMI ranged between 19 kg/m2 and 26 kg/m2. Blood samples from cubital vein were collected before a bout of moderate exercise (baseline), after moderate exercise, after a bout of severe exercise, and at the end of 1 month of regular moderate exercise. Plasma IFN-γ was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.

Results: Mean and SD of IFN-γ at baseline (no exercise) was 10.54 ± 2.21 pg/ml. After a bout of moderate exercise, its levels increased to 21.21 ± 1.34 pg/ml. Mean and SD of IFN-γ after a bout of strenuous exercise was 8.32 ± 1.45 pg/ml. The IFN-γ levels increased to 38.98 ± 2.33 pg/ml at the end of 1 month of regular moderate exercise. Its levels were higher in healthy individuals with lower BMI and lower age. But on the performance of 1 month of regular moderate exercise, the IFN-γ levels of higher age group and higher BMI came closer to that of the lower age group with lower BMI. This indicates that regular physical activity confers protection against excessive inflammation in spite of higher BMI and age.

Conclusion: Although an increase in physical stress, BMI and age predispose one to inflammation, regular physical activity of moderate nature protects against inflammation by increasing levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IFN-γ.

Key words: Exercise; Inflammation; Age; Body Mass Index; Interferon-gamma