Resistance Training Improves Sleep and Anti-Inflammatory Parameters in Sarcopenic Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Helton de Sá Souza, Camila Maria de Melo, Ronaldo Delmonte Piovezan, Rafael Eduardo Eustórgio Pinheiro Chagas Miranda, Miguel Araujo Carneiro-Junior, Bruno Moreira Silva, Ronaldo Vagner Thomatieli-Santos, Sergio Tufik, Dalva Poyares, Vânia D'Almeida

Journal: International journal of environmental research and public health 2022;19(23):16322

PMID: 36498393

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Plain Language Summary

Sleep is a behavioural state that is characterised by relative immobility and reduced responsiveness and can be distinguished from coma or anaesthesia by its rapid reversibility. Sleep has a number of functions, which include metabolism modulation and the repair of organic tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week resistance exercise training (RET) protocol on subjective and objective sleep parameters in older individuals with sarcopenia and the possible role of inflammation status in this process. This study was a randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups; RET group or control group. Results showed that a 12-week RET protocol simultaneously improved muscle strength. In addition to the increase in overall subjective sleep quality, there was also a reduction in sleep latency, apnoea-hypopnea index, and insomnia severity, as well as an increase in deeper stage 3 sleep (slow-wave sleep) in the RET group in comparison with the CTL group. Authors conclude that future studies are necessary to elucidate how different age groups and genders, with and without sarcopenia, can present specific muscle and sleep responses to potentially anti-inflammatory interventions, such as physical exercise.

Abstract

Sleep and exercise have an important role in the development of several inflammation-related diseases, including sarcopenia. Objective: To investigate the effects of 12 weeks of resistance exercise training on sleep and inflammatory status in sarcopenic patients. Methods: A randomized controlled trial comparing resistance exercise training (RET) with a control (CTL) was conducted. Outcomes were obtained by physical tests, polysomnography, questionnaires, isokinetic/isometric dynamometry tests, and biochemical analysis. Results: Time to sleep onset (sleep latency) was reduced in the RET group compared to the CTL group (16.09 ± 15.21 vs. 29.98 ± 16.09 min; p = 0.04) after the intervention. The percentage of slow-wave sleep (N3 sleep) was increased in the RET group (0.70%, CI: 7.27−16.16 vs. −4.90%, CI: 7.06−16.70; p = 0.04) in an intention to treat analysis. Apnea/hour was reduced in the RET group (16.82 ± 14.11 vs. 7.37 ± 7.55; p = 0.001) and subjective sleep quality was improved compared to the CTL (−1.50; CI: 2.76−6.14 vs. 0.00; CI: 1.67−3.84 p = 0.02) in an intention-to-treat analysis. Levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) (2.13 ± 0.80 vs. 2.51 ± 0.99; p < 0.03) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) (0.99 ± 0.10 vs. 0.99 ± 0.10 ng/mL; p < 0.04; delta variation) were increased in the RET group. Conclusions: RET improves sleep parameters linked to muscle performance, possibly due to an increase in anti-inflammatory markers in older sarcopenic patients.

Address: Department of Physical Education, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil.; Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil.; Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil.; Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil.; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5000, Australia.; Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil.; Department of Physical Education, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil.; Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil.; Department of Biosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos 11015-020, SP, Brazil.

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316322