The Study
Effects of eccentric exercise on systemic concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin (E2): comparison between young and postmenopausal women
This study watched how two groups of women’s bodies reacted after doing a tough workout. It noticed that one group had different levels of certain body chemicals than the other, but it didn’t change anything on purpose—so we can’t say one thing caused the other, just that they happened together.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
This study looked at how young and older women’s bodies react after doing a tough arm workout that makes muscles sore.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 537 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — even though both groups had the same muscle damage, older women had worse inflammation control and more pain, suggesting aging affects how the body heals after exercise.
- 2Young women had a big rise in anti-inflammatory IL-10 after 72 hours; older women didn’t.
- 3Older women also had higher baseline inflammation and more soreness linked to higher PGE2 levels.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
European Journal of Applied Physiology
Year
2012
Authors
M. Conceição, C. Libardi, F. Nogueira, V. Bonganha, A. Gáspari, M. Chacon-Mikahil, C. Cavaglieri, Vera Aparecida Madruga
Related Content
Claims (6)
After performing eccentric exercise, young women and postmenopausal women show the same levels of muscle damage as measured by creatine kinase, soreness, range of motion, and arm circumference.
After eccentric exercise, young women show a measurable rise in the anti-inflammatory molecule IL-10 at 72 hours, while postmenopausal women do not.
As healthy women age, their bodies show higher levels of the inflammatory marker TNF-α and lower levels of the anti-inflammatory marker IL-10 after eccentric exercise, even when muscle damage is accounted for.
In women, older age is associated with greater muscle soreness and higher levels of prostaglandin E2 after eccentric exercise.
Postmenopausal women have higher levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 in their blood at rest than young women.
People who exercise regularly have lower levels of prostaglandin E2 in their bodies compared to those who do not.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.