Physical activity and plasma interleukin-6 in humans - effect of intensity of exercise
Abstract
The present study included data from three marathon races to investigate the hypothesis that a relationship exists between running intensity and elevated concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 in plasma. The study included a total of 53 subjects whose mean age was 30.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4] years, mean body mass 77.7 (95% CI 2.0) kg, mean maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) 59.3 (95% CI 1.4) ml x min(-1) x kg(-1), and who had participated in the Copenhagen Marathons of 1996, 1997 or 1998, achieving a mean running time of 206 (95% CI 7) min. Running intensity was calculated as running speed divided by VO2 max. The concentration of IL-6 in plasma peaked immediately after the run. There was a negative correlation between peak IL-6 concentration and running time (r = -0.30, P<0.05) and a positive correlation between peak IL-6 concentration and running intensity (r = 0.32, P<0.05). The IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) plasma concentration peaked 1.5 h after the run and there was a positive correlation between the peak plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-1ra (r = 0.39, P<0.01). Creatine kinase (CK) plasma concentration peaked on the 1st day after the run, but no association was found between peak concentrations of IL-6 and CK. In conclusion, the results confirmed the hypothesized association between plasma IL-6 concentration and running intensity, but did not confirm the previous finding of a connection between IL-6 plasma concentration and muscle damage.
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IL-6 release during a 30 min walk at 50% VO2 max in sedentary middle-aged men is minimal, whereas prolonged physical activity such as 5 h at 40% VO2 max leads to a 19-fold increase in IL-6 levels.
“Studies have shown that IL-6 release during a 30 min walk at 50% VO2 max in sedentary middle-aged men is minimal, whereas prolonged physical activity, such as 5 h at 40% VO2 max leads to a 19-fold increase in IL-6 levels [42,43,44].”
From Exercise-Induced Muscle–Fat Crosstalk: Molecular Mediators and Their Pharmacological Modulation for the Maintenance of Metabolic Flexibility in Aging (2025) · cites this paper as [43]
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- Authors
- Ostrowski, K., Schjerling, P., & Pedersen, B. K.
- Affiliations
- Rigshospitalet (DK)
- Venue
- European Journal of Applied Physiology
- Published
- 2000-12-13
- Volume
- 83
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 512-515
- ISSN
- 0020-9376 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-6319
- 1439-6327
- OpenAlex
- W2067445057
- Cited by
- 355
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 7.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- European Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Keywords
- interleukin-6, exercise intensity, marathon running, plasma cytokines, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, creatine kinase, exercise-induced muscle damage, running speed, VO2max
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Creatine Kinase, Physical Exertion, Humans, Male, Osmolar Concentration, Oxygen Consumption, Running, Sialoglycoproteins, Time Factors, Interleukin-6, Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein
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