Abstract

 Background:

 Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, largely due to atherosclerosis which develops gradually from childhood and is exacerbated by factors like smoking, high blood pressure, and inactivity. Inflammation, particularly involving cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, plays a crucial role in this process. While current treatments focus on controlling lipids and inflammation, they come with side effects. Physical activity is gaining attention as a natural way to reduce atherosclerosis risk, especially in older adults. Physical activity can lower inflammatory markers, such as IL-6, that are linked to dangerous plaque build-up. This study reviews how physical activity affects these cytokines in people over 50, highlighting its potential to slow down atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

 Methods: 

This systematic review focused on eligibility, search technique, study selection, and bias evaluation in accordance with PRISMA 2020 recommendations. We included clinical trials that looked at the effects of physical activity on the inflammatory markers TNF-α and IL-6 in individuals over 50 who had or were at risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease. Studies from 2006-2024 written in English were considered. We excluded those involving post-surgery conditions, other chronic diseases, animal studies, or non-primary research. From January to August 2024, we searched various databases for relevant information. 

Results:

 This review summarizes the effects of physical activity on inflammation in people at risk of or suffering from atherosclerosis. Six studies were analyzed, focusing on how exercise impacts the proinflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF-α. 

Conclusion: 

The study concluded that inflammatory reactions caused by atherosclerosis can be controlled through physical activity by reducing the proinflammatory cytokines associated with the pathology.