Positive correlation between tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and cardiorespiratory fitness after six-months of regular aerobic exercise in Peruvian Amerindian women

ABSTRACT Background : Adipose tissue is a source of infl ammatory cytokines which may infl uence insulin action. Aim: To evaluate exercise effects on plasma (p)-levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-  , and interleukin (IL)-6 in Peruvian Amerindian women. Material and Methods : After fi ve years of observation during which p-glucose deteriorated and weight increased, 44 Peruvian Amerindian women aged 20-59 years took part in a 6-month exercise program. Plasma TNF-  and IL-6 had been measured 5 years earlier, and were reassessed before and after exercise, using ELISA kits. Cardiorespiratory fi tness was derived from the results of the twelve minutes’ walk and expressed as maximum oxygen uptake (VO 2max ). Results : After the training program, estimated VO 2max increased from 18.55 ± 3.79 to 20.91 ± 4.61 mL kg -1 min (p < 0.01) and p-TNF-  increased from 3.2 ± 3.4 to 4.3 ± 6.6 pg/mL (p = 0.03). There were reductions in p-glucose from 5.19 ± 1.59 to 4.32 ± 1.62 mmol/L (p < 0.01) and in waist circumference (p=0.01). Weight, p-insulin, and IL-6 did not change. Levels of p-glucose and p-TNF-