Exercise
beneficial to MS patients
By LOIS
BAKER
Contributing Editor
While
many persons with multiple sclerosis struggle to perform normal daily
activities, an exercise program appears to have a positive effect on
MS by bolstering the immune system and reducing inflammation, UB researchers
have shown.
Results
presented recently at Experimental Biology 2002, the annual meeting
of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, showed
that a 16-week program of resistance exercise lowered levels of several
proinflammatory blood components and increased levels of certain anti-inflammatory
factors.
"We
don't know yet why this happens," said Jaya Venkatraman, associate professor
of nutrition and senior author on the study. "Exercise may alter immune
function directly, or it may act indirectly by modifying stress and
neuroendocrine factors that may play a role in maintaining optimal immune
status during times of illness."
Multiple
sclerosis is a complex autoimmune disease of the central nervous system
in which the body's immune system appears to attack the sheath that
protects and insulates nerve fibers, a process called demyelination.
Breaks in the protective sheath disrupt the flow of electrical impulses,
causing loss of sensation and coordination. MS patients are especially
susceptible to fatigue.
This
research on the effect of exercise on immune function in persons with
MS is part of study headed by Nadine Fisher, assistant professor of
occupational therapy and rehabilitation sciences. She is testing the
theory that a program of resistance exercises will lessen the fatigue
MS patients experience after the activities of a regular workday and
decrease the amount of fatigue that remains the next morning. Exercisers
use machines or free weights, concentrating on improving muscular strength,
endurance and contraction speed in the arms and legs.
If
inflammation of nerve tissue plays a major role in MS symptoms, as several
studies have implied, reducing inflammation could improve the ability
to perform daily activities.
Venkatraman
took blood samples of 13 MS patients before and after the 16-week exercise
program. Analysis of samples showed a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines
(tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin 1b) and a significant increase
in anti-inflammatory components (interleukins 4 and 6).
"Resistance
exercise possibly may induce changes in the body's immune function by
lowering levels of cytokines and chemokines, which would modulate inflammation,
which in turn would decrease fatigue and improve physical performance,"
said Venkatraman.
Aparna
Krishnan, a graduate student in Venkatraman's laboratory, also contributed
to the research, which was funded by The Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation.
