The relationship between pro-inflammatory factors and vascular function after a period of circuit combined training (resistance and endurance) in elderly women

Aging is associated with low-grade inflammation and vascular endothelial dysfunction. The benefits of regular exercise for well-being in elderly are well established. However, fewer studies have been done about the impact of circuit combined training (CCT) (resistance and endurance) on pro-inflammatory factors associated with vascular function in elderly women.
Subjects were 24 healthy women (age: 73.95±5.06 years, height: 154.26±6.47 cm, weight: 66.13±9.87 kg, BMI: 27.76±3.27 kg/m2) living in nursing homes. They were divided into two groups, including experimental (n=12) and control (n=12) groups. Experimental group participated 12 weeks of CCT protocol. Anthropometric indices, flow mediated dilation (FMD), IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were measured before and after the training program.
The analysis of covariance showed a significant reduction in IL-6 (p=0.001), IL-1β (p=0.001), and TNF-α (p=0.000), and a significant increase in FMD (p=0.001), in the experimental group compared to the control after the training program. In Pearson's correlation coefficient test, a non-significant indirect relationship was observed between FMD and three factors of IL-6 (r= -0.26, p=0.41), IL-1β (r= -0.37, p=0.23), and TNF-α (r= -0.17, p=0.59).
In summary, the results indicated that 12 weeks of CCT is effective on pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with vascular function in old women aged 70 - 80 years. Also, pro-inflammatory cytokines showed an indirect and weak relationship with vascular function in old women. So, we can probably say that vascular function can improve clinically with a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines clinically after CCT protocol in old women. However, further researches are required.