Impact of Cardiovascular Exercise on Antibody Isotypes of Healthy Individuals in Eastern Nigeria

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major public health problem & a leading cause of mortality in Nigeria, which has been largely attributed to the decline in physical exercise predisposing people to various forms of chronic ailments in general. The objective of this study was to determine the more preferred form of cardio-exercise and compare results of moderate and vigorous exercises on antibody-isotypes IgG & IgM before exercise, four weeks after exercise, eight weeks after exercise and twelve weeks after exercise.

Methods: Serum concentration of antibody-isotypes IgG & IgM of both vigorous exercise group (30 male individuals who played football for 40 minutes daily for 3 days/week) and moderate exercise group (30 male individuals who engaged in mild jogging for 30 minutes daily for 5 days/week) were determined using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. All data were expressed as Mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) and analyzed with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) while multiple comparisons were done using Post Hoc test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used for correlational analysis.

Results: In the moderate exercise group, the mean serum Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was significantly increased (P<0.05) all through with exception of the 8 weeks result compared with the result 4 weeks after exercise while the mean serum Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was significantly increased (P<0.05) 12 weeks after exercise as compared with the result before exercise. In the vigorous exercise group, the mean serum IgM was significantly increased (P<0.05) all through while the mean serum IgG was significantly increased (P<0.05) 8 weeks & 12 weeks after exercise as compared with the result before exercise as well as 12 weeks after exercise as compared with the results 4 weeks after exercise.

Conclusion: Physical exercise leads to transitory elevation in antibody-isotypes, though only after an extended period of physical exercise indicating that a moderate intensity cardio-exercise is preferred as it produces enhanced immune response and reduced risks of cardiovascular disease.