Table 1.
Effect of PA on the ECS in humans
| Subjects | Exercise protocol | Main finding | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal weight male runners (n = 8), cyclists (n = 8), controls (n = 8) | Acute exercise. Running on a treadmill/cycling on a stationary bike for 45 min (HRmax = 70–80 %) | AEA content increases in plasma | [63] |
| Asymptomatic obese men (n = 49) | Chronic exercise. 1-year life intervention (diet plus exercise program, but with no indication on intensity) | Decrease of plasma AEA and 2-AG levels correlates with reduced visceral adipose tissue | [68] |
| Trained healthy volunteers (n = 12) | Acute exercise. A: strenuous hiking below an altitude of 2,100 m; B: strenuous hiking and descent the next day; C: passive ascent with helicopter (no indication on intensity parameter in any protocols) |
Plasma AEA content increases with altitude Plasma 2-AG content does not change |
[64] |
| Overweight/obese women: caloric restriction alone (n = 9) or plus moderate (n = 13) or high intensity (n = 8) exercise | Chronic exercise. 20-week intervention: caloric restriction alone (VO2max or in combination with 3 day/week of moderate (HRmax = 45–50 % for 15–55 min) or vigorous (HRmax = 70–75 % for 15–30 min) intensity exercise | FAAH gene expression decreases in abdominal adipose tissue, if exercise is combined to caloric restriction | [69] |
| Sedentary or minimally active (<60 min/week) females (n = 8) and males (n = 4) | Chronic exercise. 10 interventions during 2 weeks with a 30 min treadmill exercise (HR = 60 %) | Chronic exercise decreases craving for marijuana | [119] |
| Humans (n = 10), mixed-breed dogs (n = 8) and ferrets (n = 8) | Acute exercise. 30 min treadmill running (HRmax = 72 %) or walking (HRmax = 45 %) | Plasma AEA content increases only in cursorial animals | [66] |
| Females (n = 4), males (n = 6) | Acute exercise. 30 min treadmill running at low (HRmax = 44 %), moderate (HRmax = 72 and 83 %), or high (HRmax = 92 %) intensities | Plasma AEA content increases only at moderate intensities | [67] |
| Healthy, trained male cyclists (n = 11) | Acute exercise. Ergometric bicycle: 60 min moderate exercise (55 % of maximal trial power output), followed by 30 min intense exercise (75 % of maximal trial power output) and 15 min recovery | Increased plasma AEA, PEA, and OEA levels correlate with those of BDNF and cortisol | [65] |
| 16 healthy males: sedentary (n = 8) and active, regularly practicing running, swimming, cycling for 8.1 ± 1.2 h/week (n = 8) | Chronic exercise. Regular aerobic activity. Samples collected in resting conditions (i.e., no exercise 12 h prior to testing) | FAAH activity is higher in lymphocytes from active subjects | [42] |
HR max maximum heart rate, VO 2max maximal oxygen uptake