@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2252-0805    The Horizon of Medical Sciences 2015;21(2):81-89

Background
…[1-3] CRP, which is a sensitive marker of inflammation, plays a role in atherosclerosis [4]. Other predictive factors of cardiovascular disease are uric acid levels and serum of total bilirubin [5, 6]. … [7-20] Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are prevalent in the elderly people [21].
Previous Studies
Regular aerobic exercises are associated with a lower prevalence of cardiovascular diseases [14]. Aerobic exercises improve endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in healthy elderly men [16]. Regular exercises, which are not so heavy, are a safe and natural method for this group of people [17]. … [22-26]
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of selective aerobic training on the levels of reactive protein C, uric acid and total bilirubin in the inactive elderly women.
Research type
This is a quasi-experimental study with two groups at the pretest and posttest.
Research society, place and time
Elderly women aged 60 to 70 years with 29 to 30kg BMI were studied in 2014 in Mashhad (Iran).
Sampling method and number
21 subjects were selected by available and targeted sampling method, and assigned as experimental (n = 11) and control (n = 10) groups. Inclusion criteria included: being healthy based on the health questionnaire, no consumption of any medicine, no smoking, and no participation in any training program for at least 6 months before the research training program [27]. … [28]
Used devices&materials
To assess body composition, the height of the subjects was measured with stadiometer (Seca, Germany) with 5mm sensitivity, the hip and waist circumferences were measured with a tape measure (Mayes, Japan) with 5mm sensitivity, and body fat percentage and weight were measured with Bioelectrical impedance (model Inbody-720; South Korea) with 100gr accuracy. Dividing the waist to hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio was obtained. Dividing body weight to the square of height in meters, body mass index was achieved in kilograms per square meter. To measure waist-to-hip ratio of the subjects, the researchers measured waist circumference with a tape meter at the lowest point (between the lower end of the chest and navel) in centimeters and measured the hip circumference at the widest place on the hips in centimeters and the waist-to-hip ratio for each subject was determined dividing the hip circumference by the waist circumference. All measurements were performed while the subjects refused to eat or drink 4 hours before the test, and bladder, stomach and intestine was empty as much as possible. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before the exercises and 24 hours after the last training session. The sampling was done from left brachial vein for each subject in a sitting and resting position. Determination of C-reactive protein was carried out by nephelometry method using human MININEPH TM CRP kit (Binding Site; United Kingdom). In addition, uric acid levels and bilirubin serum was measured by kit (Parsazmoon; Iran) and by auto-analyzer (NMCI; USA). In addition, blood plasma volume (PV) was calculated using Dill & Costill equation [29]. Exercise program included 8-week aerobic (endurance) containing three 60-minute sessions per week. The exercise included 10 minutes warm-up and 45 to 60 minutes aerobic exercises with 50 to 70% of maximum heart rate intensity, and there was 30-minute exercise session at the beginning and gradually increased to 45-minute training session during this period. The intensity of exercise was controlled by rate monitor (POLAR; Finland). At the end of each exercise session, there was 10-minute body cooling down to the starting position. At the end of the project (after 8 weeks), as the pre-intervention conditions, all measurments were again conducted and data was collected. Exercise intensity was controlled by Borg scale. Control group did not perform any exercise during the study period and were inactive. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 20 software. After confirming normality of theoretical distribution using Shapiro-Wilk test exploration and homogeneity of variance by Levene test, to compare inter- and intra-group mean scores, Dependent T-test and Independent T-test were used, respectively.
Findings by Text
Reduced weight, reduced body mass index, body fat reduction, reduction in the concentration of C-reactive protein and uric acid in experimental group were significant. Despite of the change in the waist-to-hip ratio in the experimental group, this reduction was not statistically significant. The changes in C-reactive protein and total bilirubin concentration were not significant in control group. In addition, the changes of inter-group mean scores were statistically significant in both experimental and control groups. However, in reactive protein C, uric acid, total bilirubin, body mass index, body fat percentage and waist-to-hip ratio, significant differences were not observed between the groups (Table 2).
Main comparison to the similar studies
Aerobic exercise program led to a significant reduction in size, weight, body mass index and body fat percentage. These results are consistent with the findings of some studies [30, 31], but it does not match with the findings of others [32]. Body weight, body mass index and body fat percentage decreased significantly at the end of 6 weeks of interval training, but there has been a significant increase in the amount of oxygen consumption [30]. 16-week, high-intensity exercise has led to a significant reduction in abdominal and subcutaneous fat in the participants [31]. … [32, 33] Weight loss is done with aerobic exercise, but no conclusive result has been obtained that whether the intensity or duration of exercise is an important stimulus to decrease body fat [34]. 8-week aerobic training in the elderly women led to a significant decrease in serum C-reactive protein levels at the end of the period. These results are consistent with the findings of some studies [35, 36], but it is not consistent with the result of some other studies [37, 38]. After 8-week exercises, CRP levels significantly decreased in all three groups with different intensities [35]. 8-week aerobic exercises, three 60-minute sessions per week with 50% to 75% of heart rate intensity, lead to a significant decrease in homo-cysteine and hs-CRP levels in inactive women [36]. After 6-month aerobic exercises, there is no significant change in the levels of C-reactive protein and leptin [37]. …. [39-47] Aerobic exercise resulted in a significant reduction in uric acid in the elderly women. The result is consistent with some other studies [48, 49], but it is not in accordance with other findings [50]. … [51-53] Aerobic exercises did not lead to significant changes in the levels of total bilirubin in the elderly women. This result is consistent with findings of some other studies [54, 55] but it does not match with the findings of some other studies [56]. In one-session resistance exercises with an intensity equal to 60 to 70% of one maximum repetition of 8 to 12 reps on total antioxidant capacity, bilirubin and blood uric acid in 8 athlete and non-athlete adult male subjects with 59years age range, resistance exercise did not make any significant change in any of the indexes under the study, but the amount of total bilirubin and total antioxidant capacity has been insignificantly higher in the athletes [54]. One 30-minute aerobic exercise session with an intensity equal to 60, 70 and 85% of maximum heart rate, significant changes has not been appeared in the level of total bilirubin after the intervention [55].
Suggestions
Aerobic exercise should be used to prevent adverse effects resulting from the increased incidence of the atherosclerosis.
Limitations
Different diets, various adaption responses to physical activities, few subjects, and individual differences were of the limitations for the study.
Conclusions
Through reductions in weight, body mass index, percentage of fat body and cardiovascular risk factors such as C-reactive protein and uric acid, 8-week aerobic exercises improve cardiovascular health and reduce atherosclerotic risk.
Acknowledgments
Participants are appreciated.
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
Non-declared
Funding Sources
This project is funded by Department of Science and Technology of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.

TABLES and CHARTS

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