Influence of 3 months resistance training on C-reactive protein serum levels and muscle hypertrophy in elderly men

Sarcopenia is the decline of muscle mass and strength with age. Evidence suggests that inflammation play important roles in age-related muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 3 months resistance training on skeletal muscle mass and C-reactive protein levels in elderly men. In this quasi – experimental study with pretest – posttest design، twenty-five middle-age men (age: 64. 10±3. 40 yr، body mass index: 28. 29±2. 38 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to resistance training (n= 13) and control (n= 12) groups. Resistance training program was performed 50-60 min/d، 3d/wk، for 3 months. Serum C-reactive protein levels and body composition (DEXA) were measured before and after the intervention. After resistance training، leg press (lower body strength index)، bench press (upper body strength index)، and skeletal muscle mass were significantly increased (P<0. 05)، whereas، body fat indices (e. g.، body mass index and fat mass) did not change in response to resistance training (P>0. 05). Concurrently، C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased in training group (P<0. 05). Three months resistance training caused an improvement in muscle mass and strength in elderly men، and this improvement were accompanied by decreases in C-reactive protein serum levels.