The Role of Physical Activity in Healthy Living: Its Anti-Inflammatory Effects

A large body of evidence exists to support the benefits of regular physical activity and exercise in reducing morbidity and mortality through improvements in dyslipidemia, enhanced insulin sensitivity, a reduction in blood pressure, and beneficial changes in body mass and composition. Research aimed at understanding the pathophysiology of many common chronic diseases has shifted in recent decades from a focus on serum lipids and the proliferation of smooth muscle cells to the role of inflammation in chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis. Low-grade systemic inflammation can be detected by an elevation in a variety of circulating inflammatory biomarkers. In recent years, a direct association between physical activity and exercise and the release of cytokines with anti-inflammatory properties was revealed, which supports the benefit of regular physical activity in protecting individuals against certain chronic diseases. A review of the literature on the impact of exercise on inflammatory markers generally shows a positive effect of exercise and physical activity in observational studies but mixed results in randomized controlled studies.