Chronic exercise attenuates age-related physiological decline: fresh evidence

        

  Posted on September 29, 2013 by Stone Hearth News

Res Sports Med. 2013;21(4):343-54. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2013.825799.

Does chronic exercise attenuate age-related physiological decline in males?

 Hayes LD, Grace FM, Sculthorpe N, Herbert P, Kilduff LP, Baker JS. Source: a Institute of Clinical Exercise and Health Science, University of the West of Scotland , Hamilton , United Kingdom.

Abstract

Alteration in body composition, physical function, and substrate metabolism occur with advancing age.

 These changes can be attenuated by exercise.

 This study evaluated whether master athletes (MA [n = 20]) would have improved exercise capabilities, anthropometry, and hormone profiles when compared with age-matched sedentary counterparts (S [n = 28]). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

 The MA group was predominantly aerobically trained with some resistance exercise incorporated in their routine.

 The VO2max, peak power output, and salivary testosterone was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the MA group, while diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, and body fat percentage were lower (p < 0.05).

 Cortisol, fat free mass, (FFM) and total body mass were not significantly different between groups.

Salivary testosterone correlated positively with VO2max (r (2) = .320), suggesting that increased aerobic capacity is linked with higher concentrations of testosterone.

 These results suggest that life-long exercise is associated with favorable body composition and attenuation of the age related decline in testosterone.

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