In this one, higher levels of physical activity were associated with measures that may suggest slower epigenetic ageing.
- Slower epigenetic ageing was related to higher energy expenditure, step counts and more time spent in moderate-to-vigorous intensity activities.
- "Our findings imply that all levels of physical activity may be effective for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, although moderate-to-vigorous intensity activities may yield the strongest benefits."
- Findings also indicated that the effects of physical activity on health are preferentially mediated through specific cardiovascular risk factors, especially blood pressure, adiposity, and triglyceride levels.
- Finally, data also suggested that the effect of physical activity on epigenetic ageing may also be attributed to its beneficial effects on the immune function, although these effects were somewhat small.
- "In this study we found that sample-based immune function composites, which were mainly influenced by naïve B cells, CD4T+ T cells and CD8T+ T cells, partially mediated the effect of physical activity on epigenetic ageing...
"...However, it should be noted that the mediated proportion was small."
Physical activity is associated with slower epigenetic ageing—Findings from the Rhineland study (open access)
In this one, higher sedentary time was found associated with adverse cardiac structural measures, while higher light physical activity was associated with better cardiac function in adolescents.
- This study examined the independent relationships of device-based measured sedentary time and physical activity in relation to cardiac structural and functional geometry among adolescents.
- Higher sedentary time was associated with higher left ventricular mass indexed for height, while higher moderate-to-physical activity was also paradoxically associated with higher left ventricular mass indexed for height.
The findings of this study suggest that even short-term inactivity can have a detrimental impact on bone density, even in young and mostly healthy individuals.
- The study examined changes in anthropometry, body composition, and physical activity associated with changes in estimated bone mineral density in young men at the beginning and again 18 weeks later at the end of basic military training.
- At the end of basic training, the participants were by average heavier, slightly taller, and had higher fat mass and grip strength.
The findings of this one suggest that strength athletes have distinct mitochondrial characteristics with decreased mitochondrial profile size, increased numeric density, increased cristae density and increased surface-to-volume ratio, providing an optimised mitochondrial network.
- Substantial mitochondrial structural remodelling appeared to exist in the skeletal muscle of chronically strength-trained athletes (elite power and Olympic weightlifters).
- Despite similar mitochondrial volumetric density, the mitochondria of strength athletes were characterised by smaller size, increased number of mitochondrial profiles, increased cristae density, and increased surface-to-volume ratio.
This one not only supports the notion that the physical contact between lipid droplets and mitochondria are a direct pathway for fatty acid delivery to the mitochondrion, it suggests exercise can mediate this contact and that this effect is not affected by metabolic health status
- The interconnected nature of the mitochondrial network in the skeletal muscle provides a rapid mechanism for energy production and cellular distribution during exercise.
- The intramuscular mitochondria also form physical membrane-to-membrane contact with triglycerides containing lipid droplets,which isconsidered a direct pathway for fatty acid delivery to the mitochondrion for beta-oxidation.
In this one, US adults with higher total carotenoids levels had a lower prevalence of emphysema and chronic bronchitis and lower mortality of respiratory disease.
- This study examined the association of total carotenoids, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin and lycopene with the prevalence of asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and mortality of all-cause and respiratory disease.
- Individuals with higher total carotenoids and beta-cryptoxanthin levels had a lower prevalence of emphysema and chronic bronchitis.