Acute Exercise and the Systemic and Airway Inflammatory Response to a High-Fat Meal in Young and Older Adults

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine fasting and high-fat meal (HFM)-induced post-prandial systemic inflammation and airway inflammation (exhaled nitric oxide (eNO)) in older adults (OAs) compared to younger adults (YAs) before and after acute exercise. Twelve YAs (23.3 ± 3.9 y n = 5 M/7 F) and 12 OAs (67.7 ± 6 y, n = 8 M/4 F) completed two HFM challenges. After an overnight fast, participants underwent an HFM session or pre-prandial exercise (EX, 65% VO2Peak to expend 75% of the caloric content of the HFM) plus HFM (EX + HFM) in a randomized order. Systemic inflammatory cytokines were collected at 0, 3, and 6 h, while eNO was determined at 0, 2, and 4 h after the HFM (12 kcal/kg body weight: 61% fat, 35% CHO, 4% PRO). TNF-α was higher in OAs compared to YAs (p = 0.005) and decreased across time from baseline to 6 h post-HFM (p = 0.007). In response to the HFM, IL-6 decreased from 0 to 3 h but increased at 6 h regardless of age or exercise (p = 0.018). IL-8 or IL-1β did not change over the HFM by age or exercise (p > 0.05). eNO was also elevated in OAs compared to YAs (p = 0.003) but was not altered by exercise (p = 0.108). There was a trend, however, towards significance post-prandially in OAs and YAs from 0 to 2 h (p = 0.072). TNF-α and eNO are higher in OAs compared to YAs but are not elevated more in OAs post-prandially compared to YAs. Primary systemic inflammatory cytokines and eNO were not modified by acute exercise prior to an HFM.

Keywords: Western diet; acute exercise; aging; airways; inflammation; post-prandial.

Figure 1

Experimental design in the EX + HFM or HFM alone session. A baseline blood draw was taken after a 12 h overnight fast for cytokine assessments and eNO was then performed. Cytokines were also assessed at 3 h (180 min) and 6 h (360 min) post-HFM while eNO was measured at 2 h (120 min) and 4 h (240 min) post-meal.

Figure 2

(A–H). Fasting and post-prandial cytokines from baseline to 360 min after the HFM. Concentrations were taken at baseline, 180 min, and 360 min post-HFM and analyzed with a three-way ANOVA for time, age (OA and YA), condition (EX and NE). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ^t Significant effect across time post-meal. ^a Significant impact of age, where OA is different from YA.

Figure 2

(A–H). Fasting and post-prandial cytokines from baseline to 360 min after the HFM. Concentrations were taken at baseline, 180 min, and 360 min post-HFM and analyzed with a three-way ANOVA for time, age (OA and YA), condition (EX and NE). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ^t Significant effect across time post-meal. ^a Significant impact of age, where OA is different from YA.

Figure 3

Exhaled nitric oxide from baseline to 240 min post-HFM. eNO was assessed during fasting, 120 min, and 240 min post-meal. Analysis was carried out with a three-way ANOVA for time, age (OA and YA), and condition (EX and NE). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ^a Significant impact of age, where OA is different from YA.