June 16, 2004

By: Evan Thomlin
Website: http://www.1st-in-fitness.com

Resistance training reduces inflammation and improves nutritional status

A new study suggests that resistance training reduces inflammation and improves nutritional status in patients with moderate chronic kidney disease who follow a low-protein diet.

Research published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases randomly assigned patients to resistance training or to a control group, which performed stretching and flexibility exercises only, for 12 weeks.

Patients who participated in resistance training had reduced C-reactive protein levels compared with controls.

Levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) were also reduced more in those in the resistance-training program compared with controls and resistance training was associated with skeletal muscle hypertrophy and improved muscle strength compared to controls.

Although maintenance dialysis therapy and kidney transplantation promote extended survival in kidney failure, these therapies may be less effective in improving nutritional status and quality of life. Therefore, long-term interventions of resistance training should be investigated further as novel therapeutic approaches for this patient population are being considered,' conclude the authors.

Author Notes:

Evan Thomlin contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-fitness.com.  A source of information and helpful tips on various types of fitness equipment.