Effect Of Winter Swimming On The Cardiovascular System And Serum Cytokines In Older Men

Obejective: Exercise has been received by most schlars, as a effective way to prevent cardiovascular disease and improve cardiovascular function. However, there was no specific reporting about the contribution of winter swimming exercise. Winter swimming exercise was an special fitness which was participated mainly by the elderly. The purpose of the study was firstly to investigate some indicators of winter swimming group(before and after one year) and normal group, secondly to explore the effect of winter swimming on cardiovascular function and the role of prevention of cardio- vascular disease, and at last to provide a theoretical basis for winter swimming as a exercise prescription to prevent cardiovascular disease.Methods: 35 healthy winter swimmers were selected as winter swimming group, and 15 healthy subjects as control group. The age of all subjects was among 60~69. Selected indicators: total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), ECG, carotid ultrasound, Echocardiography, TNF-α, IL-6, Adiponectin. Serum TNF-αand IL-6 were measured by immunohistochemistry, serum adiponectin was measured by euzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results: Body mass index(BMI), weight, waist circumferen- ce, heart rate, TNF-α, IL-6 of winter swimming group were lower significantly than healthy control group, and left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic volume, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, HDL-C, adiponectin were higher. There was positive correlation between HDL-C and winter swimming life, and, negative between adiponectin and TG. The levels of HDL-C, adiponectin were increased and LDL-C was decreased in winter swimming after one year(p<0.05).Conclusions:①Long-term winter swimming can produce adaptive morphlogical changes of the heart, improve heart function, elevate myocardial blood and oxygen delivery.②Long-term winter swimming can improve the lipid metabolism, reduce the risk of artherosclerosis(AS).③Long-term winter swimming can regulate the expression of serum cytokines: reducing levels of serum TNF-α, IL-6 were decreased, and adiponectin was increased.