Impact of supervised physical exercise on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

Physical exercise is widely recognized as an effective non-pharmacological intervention that improves not only functional capacity, but also cognition and quality of life in older adults. However, the molecular pathways through which it influences aging-related processes remain incompletely understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize current evidence on the effects of structured physical exercise intervention on molecular biomarkers associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in older adults.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials which included participants ≥65 years old were identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library.

RESULTS

A total of 50 reports (4,379 participants) were included in the qualitative synthesis, and 38 of them in the different meta-analyses performed. Exercise interventions ranged from 8 weeks to 12 months and included aerobic, resistance, and multicomponent training. Pooled analyses indicated modest but significant reductions in C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and high-sensitivity CRP, as well as increases in IL-10. Effects on other pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α, were inconsistent across studies. Evidence from a limited number of trials (n = 6) also suggested improvements in redox balance.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Overall, structured physical exercise demonstrates a moderate immunomodulatory and antioxidant effect in older adults, although bias was moderate to high. PROSPERO registry: CRD420251006248.