Background: Sarcopenia and systemic chronic inflammation are hallmark features of biological aging, contributing significantly to functional decline in geriatric populations. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of eight-week endurance, resistance, and concurrent (Combined) training protocols on key biomarkers of sarcopenia (C-terminal agrin fragment, CAF) and inflammatory profiles (Cortisol and interleukin-6, IL-6) in elderly women.
Methods: Forty-eight elderly female volunteers (Mean Age: 65.24 ± 3.14 years; Weight: 82.76 ± 5.89 kg; Height: 162.06 ± 4.40 cm; BMI: 31.45 ± 3.21 kg/m²) were recruited and randomly allocated into four homogeneous groups (n = 12 per group): Endurance Training, Resistance Training, Concurrent Training, and Control. The experimental groups participated in their respective exercise regimens for eight weeks (Three sessions per week). To measure serum variables (Cortisol, CAF, and IL-6), fasting blood samples were collected 48 hours before the intervention and 48 hours after the final training session. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, ANCOVA, and Bonferroni post-hoc tests.
Results: Post-intervention analysis demonstrated significant reductions in serum cortisol (P = 0.001), CAF (P = 0.001), and IL-6 (P = 0.001) in all training groups compared to baseline. Significant differences were observed between the exercise groups and the control group, particularly for cortisol levels (P = 0.001); however, intergroup comparisons among the three exercise modalities showed no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that, regardless of modality, an eight-week exercise intervention effectively reduces biomarkers associated with neuromuscular junction degradation and systemic inflammation in elderly women. Therefore, these training strategies may be recommended as viable non-pharmacological approaches to counteract sarcopenic progression and age-related metabolic dysfunction.
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