Bruunsgaard and Pedersen (2000) concluded that although highly conditioned individuals seem to have a relatively better preserved immune system, it is unclear whether this advantage is linked to their INNO-406 in vivo training or to other lifestyle-related factors. The objectives of this study were thus to report phenotypic and functional immunological parameters in a substantial sample of relatively sedentary but otherwise healthy elderly women carefully screened for other factors that might adversely affect their immune function, and to examine relationships between the immunological findings, aerobic power, muscle strength and mood state. A convenience sample

of 73 sedentary but otherwise healthy female volunteers aged 60–77 years was recruited from the community of Sao Paulo, Brasil. They were informed about the procedures and risks before giving their written consent to participation in a study approved by the research ethics committee of the University ICG-001 cell line of Sao Paulo Medical School. A preliminary telephone screening that focused on current health status, drug and cigarette use, and habitual physical activity was followed by a hospital visit for a detailed history and physical examination covering past and current health status, symptoms of depression, self-reported ability to perform the basic and instrumental activities of daily living, a 12-lead electrocardiogram, an assessment

of body composition, and general laboratory blood and urine tests according to the SENIEUR protocol. Thirty-one of the initial 73 volunteers were excluded

for factors that could have modified their immune function: (i) participation in a regular physical activity programme during the previous three months; (ii) involvement in alternative dietary therapy; (iii) undernourishment or obesity, (iv) cigarette smoking; (v) cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disease, chronic infectious or auto-immune disease; (vi) central or peripheral nervous system disorders; (vii) treatment for, or a history of cancer; (viii) chronic use of corticosteroids; (ix) any Rebamipide kind of surgery during the previous three months; (x) forced bed rest during the previous three months; and (xi) any orthopedic conditions that could limit exercise or be exacerbated by exercise testing. Volunteers self-recorded their eating habits during three typical days (two week days and one weekend day). The estimate of carbohydrate intake represents the mean of records for the three days. Volunteers completed the profile of mood states questionnaire (POMS) with respect to the last week, and scores were calculated for depression/dejection and fatigue/inertia (McNair and Droppleman, 1971); potential values ranged from 0 to 60 for depression/dejection, and from 0 to 28 for fatigue/inertia, with high values indicating an unfavourable score.