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More antibodies are produced in women who participated in short bouts of physical or mental activity before receiving a flu shot than women who did not do exercise, according to the first study of this effect in humans.
The preliminary study, although small, supports the idea that acute stress may enhance immune function but chronic stress seems to suppress it.
“We’re suggesting that the effect of stress could all be in the timing,” explained lead author Kate Edwards of the University of Birmingham in England. “What we think is that the acute stress is activating the immune system; it’s preparing it for a challenge.”
The study inlcuded 60 healthy male and female university students. Each person was assigned randomly to be part of one of three activities for 45 minutes: riding a stationary bicycle, competing in a mental arithmetic contest or reading quietly. Afterward, each person received a flu shot donated by GlaxoSmithKline, U.K.
They discovered that four weeks and again 20 weeks later , when antibody levels were measured, women in the physical and mental stress groups had more antibodies to the A/Panama flu strain than women in the control group. The exact reason for the immune boost remains unclear, say the authors.
“We’d really like to see this confirmed in a larger-scale study and hopefully confirmed for other types of virus as well, or indeed other diseases,” said Mike Gleeson of Loughborough University in England. Gleeson is also vice president of the International Society for Exercise and Immunology. He suggested that “…the individual going along for a vaccination maybe walk to the hospital or clinic … so they get a bit of exercise on the way.” |
A little bit of a run might help improve a woman's immune response.
image: canvas stock
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