Exercise and the immune system - PubMed

Review

Exercise and the immune system

P Gunnar Brolinson et al. Clin Sports Med. 2007 Jul.

Abstract

Exercise has a variable effect on the immune system. The underlying reasons for this variability are multifactorial and include infectious, neuroedocrine, and metabolic factors, with nutritional status of the athlete and the training load playing a role. Environmental factors such as living quarters, travel requirements, and the type of sport (team versus individual) also contribute to infectious risk. Regarding the direct effect of exercise on the immune system, moderate exercise seems to exert a protective effect, whereas repeated bouts of strenuous exercise can result in immune dysfunction. Understanding the relationship between exercise and infectious disease has important potential implications for public health and for clinicians caring for athletes and athletic teams.

Similar articles

• Immune system adaptation in elite athletes.

  Gleeson M. Gleeson M. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2006 Nov;9(6):659-65. doi: 10.1097/01.mco.0000247476.02650.18. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2006. PMID: 17053416 Review.

• [The effects of physical exercise on the immune system].

  Jeurissen A, Bossuyt X, Ceuppens JL, Hespel P. Jeurissen A, et al. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2003 Jul 12;147(28):1347-51. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2003. PMID: 12892009 Review. Dutch.

• Immune function in sport and exercise.

  Gleeson M. Gleeson M. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Aug;103(2):693-9. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00008.2007. Epub 2007 Feb 15. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007. PMID: 17303714 Review.

• Exercise, nutrition and immune function.

  Gleeson M, Nieman DC, Pedersen BK. Gleeson M, et al. J Sports Sci. 2004 Jan;22(1):115-25. doi: 10.1080/0264041031000140590. J Sports Sci. 2004. PMID: 14971437 Review.

• Immunonutrition support for athletes.

  Nieman DC. Nieman DC. Nutr Rev. 2008 Jun;66(6):310-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00038.x. Nutr Rev. 2008. PMID: 18522619 Review.

Cited by

• Lack of exercise is a major cause of chronic diseases.

  Booth FW, Roberts CK, Laye MJ. Booth FW, et al. Compr Physiol. 2012 Apr;2(2):1143-211. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c110025. Compr Physiol. 2012. PMID: 23798298 Free PMC article. Review.

• Is Micronutrient Supplementation Helpful in Supporting the Immune System during Prolonged, High-Intensity Physical Training?

  Felice F, Moschini R, Cappiello M, Sardelli G, Mosca R, Piazza L, Balestri F. Felice F, et al. Nutrients. 2024 Sep 5;16(17):3008. doi: 10.3390/nu16173008. Nutrients. 2024. PMID: 39275323 Free PMC article. Review.

• Influence of physical activity on the immune system in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy.

  Schmidt T, Jonat W, Wesch D, Oberg HH, Adam-Klages S, Keller L, Röcken C, Mundhenke C. Schmidt T, et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2018 Mar;144(3):579-586. doi: 10.1007/s00432-017-2573-5. Epub 2018 Jan 5. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2018. PMID: 29305709 Clinical Trial.

• Exercise-induced immunodepression in endurance athletes and nutritional intervention with carbohydrate, protein and fat-what is possible, what is not?

  Gunzer W, Konrad M, Pail E. Gunzer W, et al. Nutrients. 2012 Sep;4(9):1187-1212. doi: 10.3390/nu4091187. Epub 2012 Sep 4. Nutrients. 2012. PMID: 23112908 Free PMC article. Review.

• Training Effects on Immune Function in Judoists.

  Lee N, Kim J, Hyung GA, Park JH, Kim SJ, Kim HB, Jung HS. Lee N, et al. Asian J Sports Med. 2015 Sep;6(3):e24050. doi: 10.5812/asjsm.24050. Epub 2015 Sep 28. Asian J Sports Med. 2015. PMID: 26448852 Free PMC article.

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

• Full Text Sources

  • ClinicalKey
  • Elsevier Science
  • W.B. Saunders

• Medical

  • MedlinePlus Consumer Health Information
  • MedlinePlus Health Information