How the benefits of exercise can be blocked by NSAIDs and high dose supplementation of antioxidants.
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Exercise exerts beneficial effects on muscle structure while also stimulating the body's inflammatory response. Even though exercise induces an initial burst of inflammation, over time, the net result is a decrease in chronic inflammation. However, exercising while taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAID) may blunt the initial rush of acute inflammation and negate some of the long term health effects of exercise. In this clip, Dr. Charles Raison explains that taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents or high dose antioxidants may block some of the benefits of exercise.
Transcript - Charles: Now, there’s also a study, interestingly, showing that if you look at the beneficial effects of exercise on sort of muscle restructuring, this is humans. If you exercise and take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, you get rid of all those good effects. - Rhonda: Right. Right. Yeah. - Charles: You’ve seen that, right? - Rhonda: I think I’ve seen that. Also, there was another study very similar to the anti-inflammatory, where they’re saying the NSAIDs. So there’s another study that showed taking high dose, alpha-tocopherol, no, vitamin c, so antioxidants, also suppressed the insulin sensitivity effects of exercise, possibly through, because you’re not activating that whole inflammatory. - Charles: Well, exactly. What you really would like to do is sometimes activate these compensatory systems, right? - Rhonda: Right. - Charles: If you can activate your inflammation in a way...You know, if you think about exercise, right, we were talking off camera, I think we were off camera, about the fact that I’m going to go run around Mission Bay here and I’m going to get an increase in my inflammation. Well, with these caveats, that it’s a certain pattern, but you get certain your IL6 is going to go off. But over time, the net result is a reduction in chronic inflammation. So it’s like if you hit a system a certain kind of way, what I think is that it’s like a spring. You know, you kinda want the dial to be over here, so you’d think the simple thing to do would be just to move the dial over here. But that often weakens. You’ve been using this with hormesis right? - Rhonda: Exactly. - Charles: Exactly, this idea. Doing this weakens the system’s own sort of internal capacity, so what you get is a dependence on that external element to keep the system in that state. On the other hand, although it seems paradoxical if you take it this way, but not chronically but just...and you pull the spring back and you let it go, it sort of drives the system into that other state.
A molecule that inhibits oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids in cells. Oxidative damage plays a role in the aging process, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Many vitamins and plant-based compounds are antioxidants.
Important for the endocrine enhancing properties of exercise. Exerkines are exercise-induced hormonal-like factors which mediate the systemic benefits of exercise through autocrine, paracrine, and/or endocrine properties.[1]
- ^ Helge, Jørn Wulff; Moritz, Thomas; Morville, Thomas; Clemmensen, Christoffer; Dela, Flemming (2020). Plasma Metabolome Profiling Of Resistance Exercise And Endurance Exercise In Humans Cell Reports 33, 13.
Biological responses to low-dose exposures to toxins or other stressors such as exercise, heat, cold, fasting, and xenohormetics. Hormetic responses are generally favorable and elicit a wide array of protective mechanisms. Examples of xenohormetic substances include plant polyphenols – molecules that plants produce in response to stress. Some evidence suggests plant polyphenols may have longevity-conferring effects when consumed in the diet.
A critical element of the body’s immune response. Inflammation occurs when the body is exposed to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective response that involves immune cells, cell-signaling proteins, and pro-inflammatory factors. Acute inflammation occurs after minor injuries or infections and is characterized by local redness, swelling, or fever. Chronic inflammation occurs on the cellular level in response to toxins or other stressors and is often “invisible.” It plays a key role in the development of many chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
A peptide hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets cells. Insulin maintains normal blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells; regulating carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism; and promoting cell division and growth. Insulin resistance, a characteristic of type 2 diabetes, is a condition in which normal insulin levels do not produce a biological response, which can lead to high blood glucose levels.
Highly reactive molecules that have the ability to oxidize other molecules and cause them to lose electrons. Common oxidants are oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion.
A potent water-soluble antioxidant found in citrus fruits. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in tissue repair, neurotransmission, and immune system function. Also known as ascorbic acid.
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