Low-volume exercise training attenuates oxidative stress and neutrophils activation in older adults

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of low-volume exercise training (100 min/week) on oxidative stress and neutrophils activation markers in older adults. Twenty-eight older adults (age range 65–78 years) were assigned into control ( n = 14) or exercise ( n = 14) groups. The exercise program consisted of walking 30–60 min/session, 2 days each week for 12 weeks. Blood samples were taken before starting the sessions (baseline) and when they ended. Fasting plasma and serum oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were measured using commercial kits. Cell surface expression of adhesion molecules on circulating leukocytes (CD66b and CD62L) was determined using flow cytometry. The concentrations of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites tended to be lower than the baseline values only in the exercise group ( P = 0.05). The biological antioxidant potential, thioredoxin concentrations, and glutathione peroxidase activities significantly increased only in the exercise group ( P