L-glutamine supplementation improves the inflammatory profile of exercised obese elderly.

ABSTRACT. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effect of oral L-glutamine (Gln) supplementation, associated or not with the regular practice of combined-exercise training (CET), on glycemic and lipid profile and systemic inflammatory status in elderly subjects. METHODS: 84 elderly subjects, non-practitioners (NP, n=31) and practitioners of CET (n=53), were supplemented with Gln [0.3g/kg of weight plus 10g of maltodextrin, groups: NP-Gln (n=14), and CET-Gln (n=26)], or placebo [10g of maltodextrin, groups: NP-PL (n=17), and CET-PL (n=27)]. Anthropometric and physical data were assessed. Blood sampling was collected pre and post-30 days of supplementation. RESULTS: NP subgroups showed higher BMI and serum IL-6 levels than CET subgroups before and post-supplementation. Higher serum levels of IL-10 with lower IL-6 and IL-6/IL-10 ratio were observed post-supplementation in the CET-Gln subgroup than pre-supplementation. When the volunteers were separated according to their BMI, higher IL-6 levels were found in all obese (OB) subgroups than in the adequate weight (AW) subgroups before supplementation. This difference was not maintained between OB CET-Gln and AW CET-Gln subgroups post-supplementation. Higher levels of IL-10 with lower IL-6 and IL-6/IL-10 ratio were found in the OB CET-Gln subgroup post-supplementation than pre-supplementation. No differences were found in the glycemic and lipid profile. CONCLUSION: Oral Gln supplementation when associated with the regular practice of CET can modulate the systemic inflammatory status, especially in obese elderly subjects. DESCRIPTORS: Aging, Inflamm-aging, Body mass index, Obesity, Cytokines, Glycemic and Lipid profile. RESUMO OBJETIVO: Elucidar o efeito da suplementacao oral de L-glutamina (Gln), associada ou nao a pratica regular de exercicios combinados (REC), sobre o perfil glicemico e lipidico e o estado inflamatorio sistemico de idosos. METODOS: 84 idosos, nao praticantes (NP, n = 31) e praticantes de REC (n = 53), foram suplementados com Gln [0,3g / kg de peso mais 10g de maltodextrina, grupos: NP-Gln (n = 14), e CET-Gln (n = 26)], ou placebo [10g de maltodextrina, grupos: NP-PL (n = 17) e CET-PL (n = 27)]. Dados antropometricos e fisicos foram avaliados. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas antes e apos 30 dias de suplementacao. RESULTADOS: Os subgrupos NP mostraram maiores IMC e niveis sericos de IL-6 do que os subgrupos REC antes e apos a suplementacao. Niveis sericos mais elevados de IL-10 com menor proporcao de IL-6 e IL-6 / IL-10 foram observados apos a suplementacao no subgrupo REC -Gln do que na pre-suplementacao. Quando os voluntarios foram separados de acordo com seu IMC, niveis mais elevados de IL-6 foram encontrados em todos os subgrupos de obesos (OB) do que nos subgrupos de peso adequado (AW) antes da suplementacao. Esta diferenca nao foi mantida entre os subgrupos OB REC -Gln e AW REC -Gln pos-suplementacao. Niveis mais elevados de IL-10 com IL-6 e razao IL-6 / IL-10 mais baixos foram encontrados no subgrupo OB REC -Gln pos-suplementacao do que na pre-suplementacao. Nao foram encontradas diferencas no perfil glicemico e lipidico. CONCLUSAO: A suplementacao de Gln oral quando associada a pratica regular de REC pode modular o estado inflamatorio sistemico, principalmente em idosos obesos. DESCRITORES: Envelhecimento, Inflamacao-envelhecimento, Indice de massa corporal, Obesidade, Citocinas, Perfil Glicemico e Lipidico.