The Nugget
- This article reviews evidence on how endurance training (ET) and resistance training (RT) affect telomere length (TL), focusing on the mechanisms involved. Evidence suggests ET may benefit TL more than RT.
Make it stick
- 🏃 Endurance training may slow telomere shortening compared to resistance training
- 🧬 Telomeres are protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that shorten with age
- 🔬 Mechanisms may involve inflammation, oxidative stress, and expression of telomere-related proteins
Key insights
Effects of exercise on telomere length
- Several cross-sectional studies have found that endurance athletes have longer telomeres compared to sedentary individuals
- Resistance training has been less consistently associated with longer telomeres
- Longitudinal studies show endurance training interventions can slow the rate of telomere shortening
Mechanisms linking exercise to telomere length
- Endurance exercise reduces chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, two factors that accelerate telomere shortening
- Exercise upregulates expression of telomere stabilizing proteins
- Resistance training has a lesser anti-inflammatory effect than endurance training
Conclusion
- Current evidence suggests endurance training is more beneficial for maintaining telomere length than resistance training
- More research is needed to clarify the effects of different exercise modalities on telomere dynamics
Key quotes
- "It appears that the type of physical activity is important, with ET likely being superior to RT with regard to maintaining TL."
- "Because telomere shortening is associated with aging and age-related diseases, this may represent a novel mechanism by which aerobic exercise provides salutary effects."
This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.