Investigating the Changes of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Α and Interleukin-10 After 8 Weeks of Regular Pilates Exercise and Vitamin D Intake in Overweight Men. A Randomized Clinical Trial

Weight gain and vitamin D deficiency are associated with increased systemic inflammation and chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of regular Pilates training associated with VitaminD intake on Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)  and  Interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in men with overweight.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 50 overweight men with 45-55 years. Volunteers were firstly selected through convenience sampling and were divided into Pilates training, Pilates training +vitaminD supplementation, vitamin D supplementation (combined), and control groups (13 people in each group). The Pilates training program was performed for 8 weeks (with the intensity of 50-75% of reserve heart rate, 3 sessions/week). The supplement and combined groups also received 50000 units of oral vitamin D weekly for 8 weeks. Serum levels of variables were determined using ELISA method.The data were analyzed by paired t test, one wayANOVA and Kruskal Wallis tests at the significant level of less than 0.05.

Ethical Considerations:

This study with research ethics code IR.IAU.BABOL.REC.1398.088 has been approved by research ethics committee at Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Iran

The results showed that 8 weeks of Pilates training, vitamin D intake and the combined intervention were associated with a significant increase in IL-10 (P<0.001) and decreased in TNF-α (P<0.001). In addition, combination intervention was associated with more changes in these variables compared to the other two interventions but in the exercise group, the decrease in TNF-α level was more than vitaminD group (p=0.012).

It seems that in the overweight status with low levels of vitamin D, anti-inflammatory effects of each Pilates training,  vitaminD supplementation interventions and a combination of the two methods can be attributed in part to up-regulation IL-10 and TNF-α reduction  but the effectiveness of combined intervention on the development of inflammation was greater than on the other two interventions. Also, the effect of Pilates training on reducing TNF-α is stronger than vitaminD supplementation.