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To examine whether the volume of previous exercise training in older athletes influences inflammatory, redox, and hormonal profiles, 40 trained marathon runners were divided into higher-volume (HVG, ∼480 min/week) and lower-volume groups (LVG, ∼240 min/week). Plasma inflammatory proteins, redox biomarkers, salivary testosterone, and cortisol were assessed at restand following two maximal acute exercise bouts. At rest, the LVG exhibited higher CRP, higher protein carbonyls, and lower SOD activity compared to the HVG (p’s < .05). In response to exercise, TNF-α declined similarly in both groups whereas CRP increased differentially (+60% LVG; +24% HVG; p’s < .05). Protein carbonyls decreased and thiols increased similarly in both groups, but SOD declined differentially between groups (−14% LVG; −20% HVG; p’s < .05). Salivary testosterone decreased similarly in both groups, whereas cortisol did not change. A higher volume of training is associated with favorable inflammatory and redox profiles at rest, perhaps mediated by small inflammatory responses to acute exercise.
Estrela, Zaparte, and Bauer are with the Institute of Biomedical Research, Pontifical Catholic University of the Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil. Da Silva and Moreira are with the Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil. Turner is with the University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.