Effect of moderate physical exercise on body composition, physical fitness and serum cytokines levels

Introduction: As more people lead sedentary lifestyle the question is rising – if starting moderate physical activity would ease the problems associated with decreased physical activity.
Aim: To assess moderate physical activity effect on overall muscle strength and wellbeing.
Objectives: (1) Select physically healthy women in their 20–30 who report themselves as lacking physical activity. (2) Evaluate participant physical fitness entering the research. (3) Instruct them to do mild – moderate exercise for 2months. (4) Evaluate results upon repeated measurements.
Methods: Physical fitness was tested by palm grip test and spirometry and body composition was assessed using bioimpedance method. Serum levels of interleukin 6 (Il- 6), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF- 23) and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM1) were measured. Participants received instructions for physical activities that they had to do for 2 months until the next meeting. Activities were chosen as mild to moderate and included collecting 10 000 steps daily and an exercise for upper body with added 0.5 kg weight. After 2 months of exercising all measurements were repeated.
Results: 22 participants were selected and divided in 3 groups according to their body mass index (BMI). After 2months of exercise there was no significant change in spirography data and muscle mass in any of the groups, but slight changes could be observed in muscle strength and cytokines.
Conclusions: Mild to moderate physical exercise may not be enough to increase muscle mass but may play positive impact on overall wellbeing.