Effects of 12 Weeks Combined Exercise on Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Leukocyte Telomere Length in Elderly Women

Abstract

PURPOSE This study is to investigate the effects of combined exercise on body composition, physical fitness and leukocyte telomere length in elderly women. METHODS Twenty-six elderly women were randomly divided into two group: combined exercise group (EXE, n=14) and control group (CON, n=12). EXE group performed combined exercise for 60 mintues per day, 2days/week for 12 weeks. RESULTS There was significant interaction between groups and time points in body composition (e.g., skeletal muscle mass, visceral fat area, and Inbody score). EXE group was no significant changes in skeletal muscle mass, visceral fat area and Inbody score, but the CON group showed significant decrease in skeletal muscle mass and Inbody score. Furthermore, increased in visceral fat area. Among the measurement variable of physical fitness, there was significant interaction between group and time in 6 minutes walking test, chair sit test, and knee flexion muscle endurance. In EXE group, 6 minutes walking test and chair test was significantly increased, and there were no significant differences in knee flexion muscle endurance, whereas CON group, the 6 minutes walking test and knee flexion muscle endurance significantly decreased, and there was no significant difference in chair test. In addition, there was significant interaction between groups and time points in leukocyte telomere length. EXE group was no significant changes, but CON group significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggest that combined exercise-induced improvement of body composition and physical fitness may have had a positive effect on leukocyte telomere length in elderly women.

Keywords

• combined exercise
• body composition
• physical fitness
• leukocyte telomere length