Enhanced serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and -6 in sarcopenia: alleviation through exercise and nutrition intervention

Abstract

Background: Limited research has been conducted on the post-intervention inflammatory status in sarcopenic patients, despite previous studies revealing elevated pro-inflammatory markers. This study aimed to investigate the potential elevation of specific pro-inflammatory cytokines in sarcopenic patients and evaluate the effects of exercise and nutritional support interventions on these cytokine levels.

Methods: In this post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 57 individuals with sarcopenia from the RCT and 57 non-sarcopenic participants from the same geriatric community cohort that did not participate in the RCT were enrolled. Grip strength and body composition measurements were recorded. Tumor necrotizing factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-15 levels were assessed at baseline for both groups and after a 12-week intervention consisting of resistive exercise and supplementation with branched-chain amino acids, calcium, and vitamin D3 in the patients with sarcopenia.

Results: The sarcopenic group demonstrated significantly lower body weight, body mass index, grip strength, and skeletal muscle mass index. Moreover, sarcopenic patients exhibited higher levels of TNF-α (p=0.007), IL-1β (p<0.001), and IL-6 (p<0.001), while no significant difference was observed in IL-15 (p=0.345) between participants with and those without sarcopenia. Following the intervention, the sarcopenic group experienced significant improvements in grip strength and skeletal muscle mass index with a notable reduction in TNF-α (p=0.003), IL-1β (p=0.012) and IL-6 (p=0.001) levels.

Conclusions: Sarcopenic patients exhibit elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, which declined after nutrition support and exercise interventions. However, further research is necessary to evaluate the long-term impact of these interventions on cytokine levels.

Keywords: cytokine; exercise; inflammation; nutrition; sarcopenia.

Figure 1

Flow diagram of participant recruitment. In this flow diagram, the blood drawing icon signifies the examination of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Figure 2

Comparisons of the levels of (A) tumor necrotizing factor (TNF)-α, (B) interleukin (IL)-1β, (C) IL-6, and (D) IL-15 between participants with and those without sarcopenia (SA). *, p<0.05.

Figure 3

Correlation of grip strength at baseline with (A) tumor necrotizing factor (TNF)-α, (B) interleukin (IL)-1β, (C) IL-6, and (D) IL-15.

Figure 4

Correlation of skeletal muscle mass (SMI) at baseline with (A) tumor necrotizing factor (TNF)-α, (B) interleukin (IL)-1β, (C) IL-6, and (D) IL-15.

Figure 5

Receiver operating characteristic analysis for discriminating participants with and those without sarcopenia by (A) tumor necrotizing factor (TNF)-α, (B) interleukin (IL)-1β, (C) IL-6, and (D) IL-15.

Figure 6

Comparisons of the levels of (A) tumor necrotizing factor (TNF)-α, (B) interleukin (IL)-1β, (C) IL-6, and (D) IL-15 among participants with sarcopenia before and after exercise and nutrition intervention. *, p<0.05.