The role of physical activity in oxidative damage and anti-oxidant status in elderly people: A review of mechanisms

There are an increasing number of studies about elderly people’s health. The reason for this increase is attributed to the increased numbers of elderly people in developed countries, therapeutic budget used for health of this population, and the human tendency to extend life and quality. Different reasons and theories have been proposed for the aging process. One of the main, mostly accepted theories is the oxidative stress theory. According to this theory, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species increase with increasing age. This increase causes damage to cells and tissues, and subsequently leads to the emergence of age-related diseases and eventually death. One of the ways to prevention aging and age-related diseases is physical activity. Appropriate physical activity in terms of the type, intensity, and duration can slow the aging process and reduce related disease. Although, exercise itself is a multiplicative factor of reactive oxygen species, the intensity and type of activity is important. Physicians suggest aerobic exercise as the best exercise for the elderly. However, recently, resistance exercise has also attracted the attention of many health professionals. It seems that resistance training and moderate aerobic exercises are of greater benefit for elderly people. In this study, we review different physical activities, their effects, and provide conclusions.