Effect of exercise on TNF-α levels in patients with type 2 diabetes in Bengkulu, Indonesia

Raden Sunita; Resva Meinisasti; Sri Wahyuni; Agung Riyadi

Raden Sunita Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Polytechnic of Health Bengkulu, Bengkulu, Indonesia
Resva Meinisasti Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Polytechnic of Health Bengkulu, Bengkulu, Indonesia
Sri Wahyuni Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Malikussaleh, Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Indonesia
Agung Riyadi Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Polytechnic of Health Bengkulu, Bengkulu, Indonesia

Keywords: type 2 diabetes, exercise training, TNF-alpha

Abstract

Along with diet and medication, exercise is now recommended as the first approach for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. Previous studies indicate that regular exercise has an anti-inflammatory effect. TNF-α is one of the prominent pro-inflammatory mediators involved in the pathophysiology of T2DM; however, the effect is inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of diabetes exercise on the TNF-α level in patients with T2DM. A pre-test and post-test one-group design research was conducted at the Community Health Centre Sentinel Bengkulu, Indonesia, from November to December 2019. Patients with type 2 diabetes received diabetes exercise training for eight weeks (one time per week). Our study involved fifteen T2DM patients: 55.53±3.16 years old; male/female ratio, 2/13; and duration of diabetes was 13.87±2.94 years. Exercise training reduced TNF-α level (from 78.60±14.38 to 61.47±11.56 pg/mL; p<0.0001). Fasting blood glucose decreased after diabetes exercise (190±50.43 vs. 221.53±39.02 mg/dL; p=0.0065). Performing diabetes exercise exerts anti-inflammatory effects in T2DM patients. This observation should encourage patients with T2DM to increase their physical activity levels to prevent diabetes complications.