Cytokine response to resistance exercise in children with excess adiposity and Prader‐Willi syndrome

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and irisin (cytokines) are affected by excess body fat (obesity), skeletal muscle, and resistance exercise (RE). The purpose of this study is to determine whether Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a genetic cause for obesity (OB), or non-syndromic OB influences these cytokine responses to RE. Nine children with PWS (11.4 ± 3.3 years, 45.6 ± 5.2% BF), 11 children without OB (9.2 ± 1.4 years, 18.6 ± 5.0% BF), and 12 children with OB (9.6 ± 1.3 years, 40.4 ± 5.4% BF) participated. Children stepped onto an elevated platform wearing a weighted vest for 6 sets of 10 repetitions per leg separated by 1 min of rest. Blood samples were obtained before exercise (pre), immediately post (IP), and during recovery (+15 and +60 min). There were no group-by-time interactions for any cytokine; and neither time nor group effects for TNF-α or irisin (p ≥ 0.378). For IL-6, 60+ was higher than pre, IP, and +15 (p < 0.001). Children with PWS and OB had increased IL-6 than children without OB (p ≤ 0.038). Neither PWS nor OB affected IL-6, TNF-α or irisin responses to RE. However, excess body fat was associated with higher IL-6 concentrations.