Skip to main content
NCBI home page
British Journal of Sports Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Sports Medicine
. 2000 Jun;34(3):181–187. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.34.3.181

Immune function in female elite rowers and non-athletes

D Nieman 1, S Nehlsen-Cannarell 1, O Fagoaga 1, D Henson 1, M Shannon 1, J Hjertman 1, R Schmitt 1, M Bolton 1, M Austin 1, B Schilling 1, R Thorpe 1
PMCID: PMC1763266  PMID: 10854017

Abstract

Objective—To compare immune function in female rowers and controls in the resting state, and then correlate the results with a two month history of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI).

Methods—Subjects included 20 elite female rowers located at the ARCO Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, California, and 19 non-athletic female controls. These two groups were compared cross sectionally for immune function and infection rates.

Results—Granulocyte/monocyte phagocytosis, oxidative burst activity, and plasma cytokine concentrations (interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist) did not differ significantly between groups. Phytohaemagglutinin induced lymphocyte proliferative response (adjusted whole blood method) was significantly higher (31% and 36% for optimal and suboptimal concentrations respectively) in rowers than in controls. Natural killer cell activity was substantially higher (1.6-fold for total lytic units) in the female rowers than in controls. Two month health logs disclosed 5.2 (1.2) and 3.3 (1.1) days with URTI symptoms for the rowers and controls respectively (p = 0.268). For all 39 subjects combined, and for the 20 rowers separately, none of the immune parameters correlated significantly with number of days with URTI symptoms.

Conclusions—In this cross sectional comparison of elite female rowers and non-athletes, a group difference was found for natural killer cell activity and phytohaemagglutinin induced proliferative response (whole blood technique), but not other measures of immune function. The number of days with URTI symptoms during the spring season did not differ between groups, and variations in blood measures of immunity were unrelated to URTI.

Key Words: rowing; immune system; neutrophil; lymphocyte; phagocytosis; natural killer cell

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (150.9 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baj Z., Kantorski J., Majewska E., Zeman K., Pokoca L., Fornalczyk E., Tchórzewski H., Sulowska Z., Lewicki R. Immunological status of competitive cyclists before and after the training season. Int J Sports Med. 1994 Aug;15(6):319–324. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1021067. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bloemena E., Roos M. T., Van Heijst J. L., Vossen J. M., Schellekens P. T. Whole-blood lymphocyte cultures. J Immunol Methods. 1989 Sep 1;122(2):161–167. doi: 10.1016/0022-1759(89)90260-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bryant J., Day R., Whiteside T. L., Herberman R. B. Calculation of lytic units for the expression of cell-mediated cytotoxicity. J Immunol Methods. 1992 Jan 21;146(1):91–103. doi: 10.1016/0022-1759(92)90052-u. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Castell L. M., Poortmans J. R., Newsholme E. A. Does glutamine have a role in reducing infections in athletes? Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1996;73(5):488–490. doi: 10.1007/BF00334429. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Foster C. Monitoring training in athletes with reference to overtraining syndrome. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998 Jul;30(7):1164–1168. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199807000-00023. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hack V., Strobel G., Weiss M., Weicker H. PMN cell counts and phagocytic activity of highly trained athletes depend on training period. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1994 Oct;77(4):1731–1735. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1994.77.4.1731. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hagerman F. C. Applied physiology of rowing. Sports Med. 1984 Jul-Aug;1(4):303–326. doi: 10.2165/00007256-198401040-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kramer J. F., Leger A., Paterson D. H., Morrow A. Rowing performance and selected descriptive, field, and laboratory variables. Can J Appl Physiol. 1994 Jun;19(2):174–184. doi: 10.1139/h94-013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lewicki R., Tchórzewski H., Denys A., Kowalska M., Golińska A. Effect of physical exercise on some parameters of immunity in conditioned sportsmen. Int J Sports Med. 1987 Oct;8(5):309–314. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1025675. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Mackinnon L. T., Hooper S. L., Jones S., Gordon R. D., Bachmann A. W. Hormonal, immunological, and hematological responses to intensified training in elite swimmers. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997 Dec;29(12):1637–1645. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199712000-00014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Mackinnon L. T. Immunity in athletes. Int J Sports Med. 1997 Mar;18 (Suppl 1):S62–S68. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-972701. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Nielsen H. B., Secher N. H., Christensen N. J., Pedersen B. K. Lymphocytes and NK cell activity during repeated bouts of maximal exercise. Am J Physiol. 1996 Jul;271(1 Pt 2):R222–R227. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.1996.271.1.R222. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Nieman D. C., Brendle D., Henson D. A., Suttles J., Cook V. D., Warren B. J., Butterworth D. E., Fagoaga O. R., Nehlsen-Cannarella S. L. Immune function in athletes versus nonathletes. Int J Sports Med. 1995 Jul;16(5):329–333. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-973014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Nieman D. C., Buckley K. S., Henson D. A., Warren B. J., Suttles J., Ahle J. C., Simandle S., Fagoaga O. R., Nehlsen-Cannarella S. L. Immune function in marathon runners versus sedentary controls. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 Jul;27(7):986–992. doi: 10.1249/00005768-199507000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Nieman D. C. Exercise immunology: practical applications. Int J Sports Med. 1997 Mar;18 (Suppl 1):S91–100. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-972705. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Nieman D. C., Henson D. A., Gusewitch G., Warren B. J., Dotson R. C., Butterworth D. E., Nehlsen-Cannarella S. L. Physical activity and immune function in elderly women. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993 Jul;25(7):823–831. doi: 10.1249/00005768-199307000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Nieman D. C. Immune response to heavy exertion. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1997 May;82(5):1385–1394. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1997.82.5.1385. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Nieman D. C., Johanssen L. M., Lee J. W., Arabatzis K. Infectious episodes in runners before and after the Los Angeles Marathon. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1990 Sep;30(3):316–328. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Nieman D. C., Nehlsen-Cannarella S. L., Henson D. A., Koch A. J., Butterworth D. E., Fagoaga O. R., Utter A. Immune response to exercise training and/or energy restriction in obese women. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998 May;30(5):679–686. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199805000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Nieman D. C., Pedersen B. K. Exercise and immune function. Recent developments. Sports Med. 1999 Feb;27(2):73–80. doi: 10.2165/00007256-199927020-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Pedersen B. K., Bruunsgaard H. How physical exercise influences the establishment of infections. Sports Med. 1995 Jun;19(6):393–400. doi: 10.2165/00007256-199519060-00003. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Pedersen B. K., Nieman D. C. Exercise immunology: integration and regulation. Immunol Today. 1998 May;19(5):204–206. doi: 10.1016/s0167-5699(98)01255-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Pedersen B. K., Rohde T., Zacho M. Immunity in athletes. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1996 Dec;36(4):236–245. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Pedersen B. K., Tvede N., Christensen L. D., Klarlund K., Kragbak S., Halkjr-Kristensen J. Natural killer cell activity in peripheral blood of highly trained and untrained persons. Int J Sports Med. 1989 Apr;10(2):129–131. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1024888. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Peters-Futre E. M. Vitamin C, neutrophil function, and upper respiratory tract infection risk in distance runners: the missing link. Exerc Immunol Rev. 1997;3:32–52. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Pyne D. B., Baker M. S., Fricker P. A., McDonald W. A., Telford R. D., Weidemann M. J. Effects of an intensive 12-wk training program by elite swimmers on neutrophil oxidative activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 Apr;27(4):536–542. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Secher N. H. Physiological and biomechanical aspects of rowing. Implications for training. Sports Med. 1993 Jan;15(1):24–42. doi: 10.2165/00007256-199315010-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Shephard R. J., Kavanagh T., Mertens D. J., Qureshi S., Clark M. Personal health benefits of Masters athletics competition. Br J Sports Med. 1995 Mar;29(1):35–40. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.29.1.35. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Shinkai S., Kohno H., Kimura K., Komura T., Asai H., Inai R., Oka K., Kurokawa Y., Shephard R. Physical activity and immune senescence in men. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 Nov;27(11):1516–1526. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Smith J. A., Telford R. D., Mason I. B., Weidemann M. J. Exercise, training and neutrophil microbicidal activity. Int J Sports Med. 1990 Jun;11(3):179–187. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1024788. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Snegovskaya V., Viru A. Elevation of cortisol and growth hormone levels in the course of further improvement of performance capacity in trained rowers. Int J Sports Med. 1993 May;14(4):202–206. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1021164. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Steinacker J. M., Lormes W., Lehmann M., Altenburg D. Training of rowers before world championships. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998 Jul;30(7):1158–1163. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199807000-00022. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Storer T. W., Davis J. A., Caiozzo V. J. Accurate prediction of VO2max in cycle ergometry. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990 Oct;22(5):704–712. doi: 10.1249/00005768-199010000-00024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Whiteside T. L., Bryant J., Day R., Herberman R. B. Natural killer cytotoxicity in the diagnosis of immune dysfunction: criteria for a reproducible assay. J Clin Lab Anal. 1990;4(2):102–114. doi: 10.1002/jcla.1860040207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Sports Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES