Acute and Recovery Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Serum Interleukin-6 in Adult Male Smokers

Smoking is known to be the main risk factor in systemic inflammation and insulin resistance.
In the present study, the researchers aimed at comparing serum interleukin 6 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine between smokers and non-smokers and determining acute and recovery response of IL-6 to a single bout aerobic exercise in 2 groups.
For this purpose, 15 adult male non-trained smokers (n = 15) and non-smokers (n = 15) matched for age (35.5 ± 5.8 years) and body mass index (BMI) (31.30 ± 4.5 kg/m2) were selected to participate in this study. Subjects of the 2 groups completed aerobic exercise consisting of 40 minutes of running on a flat surface with no slope at 70%maximal heart rate. Venous blood samples were collected before, immediately, 60 minutes and 24 hours after the exercise test of the 2 groups. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures in each group.
Based on statistical data, serum Interleukin (IL)-6 level in smoker subjects was significantly higher than non-smokers at baseline. A significant increase was observed in serum IL-6, immediately after exercise test in smokers yet remained unchanged in nonsmokers. Interleukin-6 concentration decreased 1 and 24 hours after exercise compared with baseline in the 2 groups.
Acute increase and recovery decrease in serum IL-6 response to exercise suggests an anti-inflammatory effect of moderate aerobic exercise on smokers.