Effect of Cardiovascular Exercise on Cystatin C Level of Healthy Subjects in South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Sedentary lifestyle is an issue of great concern because of its deleterious health implications in developed and developing countries. It is associated with limited physical activity thus exposing people to high risk of developing various health conditions. The objective of this study was to determine and compare results of moderate and vigorous exercises on cystatin C before exercise, four weeks after exercise, eight weeks after exercise and twelve weeks after exercise. Serum concentration of cystatin C of both vigorous exercise group (30 male individuals who played football for 40 minutes daily for 3 days/week) and moderate exercise group (30 male individuals who engaged in mild jogging for 30 minutes daily for 5 days/week) were determined using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. All data were expressed as Mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) and analyzed with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) while multiple comparisons were done using Post Hoc test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used for correlational analysis.  The mean age for subjects in moderate exercise group was 23.13 ± 2.11 years while mean age for subjects in vigorous exercise group was 22.63 ± 1.67 years (p>0.05). In both moderate and vigorous exercise groups, the mean serum concentration of Cystatin C was significantly reduced (p<0.05) 8 weeks and 12 weeks after exercise as compared with the result before exercise as well as 12 weeks after exercise as compared with the results 4 weeks after exercise. Cardiovascular exercise leads to reduced cystatin levels, indicating an enhanced glomerular filtration rate and reduced risks of cardiovascular disease thus contributing a beneficial effect of maintenance of sound health.