ISMJ

Background: Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) proposition, 5 days a week and 30 minutes a day of aerobic physical activity has numerous healthy effects for middle-aged and adult population. However, to date the anti inflammatory effect of this program has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 16 weeks of the WHO purposed physical activity program on C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in middle-aged men. Material and Methods: 30 middle-aged men with C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels higher than the predicted values participated in this study. The subjects randomized to three groups: control(n=10), one training session per day(n=10, 16 weeks, 5 days a week, 30 minutes a day tread mill running, with70-80% of HRmax ), and two training sessions per day(n=10, 16 weeks, 5 days a week, 2×15 minutes a day tread mill running, with70-80% of HRmax). Pre and post exercise C-reactive protein (fasting), interleukin-6(fasting), BMI and VO2max were measured. Data were analyzed with paired and one sample t-test and variance analysis. Results: Both training methods caused significant (p<0.05) decrease in C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and BMI, and significant (p<0.05) increase in VO2max in comparison with the control group. Conclusion: 16 weeks of the WHO proposed physical activity program, either one session per day or two sessions per day, can lead to C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 reduction in middle-age men.