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Importance of exercise immunology in health promotion

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Abstract

Chronic physical exercise with adequate intensity and volume associated with sufficient recovery promotes adaptations in several physiological systems. While intense and exhaustive exercise is considered an important immunosuppressor agent and increases the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), moderate regular exercise has been associated with significant disease protection and is a complementary treatment of many chronic diseases. The effects of chronic exercise occur because physical training can induce several physiological, biochemical and psychological adaptations. More recently, the effect of acute exercise and training on the immunological system has been discussed, and many studies suggest the importance of the immune system in prevention and partial recovery in pathophysiological situations. Currently, there are two important hypotheses that may explain the effects of exercise and training on the immune system. These hypotheses including (1) the effect of exercise upon hormones and cytokines (2) because exercise can modulate glutamine concentration. In this review, we discuss the hypothesis that exercise may modulate immune functions and the importance of exercise immunology in respect to chronic illnesses, chronic heart failure, malnutrition and inflammation.

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Acknowledgments

There are no conflicts of interest, personal compensation, or personal financial investment. This study was supported by FAPESP # 2007/00073-7.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Federal University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    J. C. Rosa Neto & F. S. Lira

  2. Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    M. T. de Mello & Ronaldo Vagner T. Santos

  3. Department of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Ronaldo Vagner T. Santos

  4. Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, UNIFESP–Baixada Santista, Rua Professor Francisco de Castro, 93, Vila Clementino, Sao Paulo, SP, 04020-050, Brazil

    Ronaldo Vagner T. Santos

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  1. J. C. Rosa Neto
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  2. F. S. Lira
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  3. M. T. de Mello
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  4. Ronaldo Vagner T. Santos
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Correspondence to Ronaldo Vagner T. Santos.

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Rosa Neto, J.C., Lira, F.S., de Mello, M.T. et al. Importance of exercise immunology in health promotion. Amino Acids 41, 1165–1172 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-010-0786-x

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