TUESDAY, April 20, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Older adults who do moderate resistance exercise over a long period of time can boost their immune system, says a study be researchers at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada.
The study included 10 men and 12 women, aged 54 to 82. When they did moderate resistance exercise -- using tubing and exercise balls -- at home 30 minutes a day, three times a week, for 11 months, they showed a significant increase in natural killer cell activity, which is the immune system's first line of defense against viral infection.
The extended period of exercise may be the major influence on this strengthening of the immune system, the researchers suggest. Previous research of people doing up to three months of resistance exercise did not find the same increase in immune system activity.
Along with enhanced immune system response, the study participants also showed major improvements in muscle strength and in lipid profiles, with decreased total cholesterol and LDL concentrations.
The study was presented Monday at Experimental Biology 2004 in Washington, D.C..
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more about exercise and immunity.
