Impact of recreational physical exercise on inflammatory parameters and executive function of students and staff kept physically inactive during the COVID-19 pandemic period

• Grant number: 21/06338-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Santos de Lira
• Grantee: Ivete Vera Medeiros dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

During the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have shown a high rate of sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, mood disorders, and reduced sleep quality, in parallel with a reduction in physical exercise. The importance of physical exercise for the maintenance of physical and mental health is well established in the literature, exerting positive effects in the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions, depressive and anxiety disorders, reduction of adipose tissue deposits, and metabolic dysregulation, including by presenting anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the objective of this project is to evaluate the impact of eight weeks of physical training on metabolic and inflammatory (immunometabolic variables) and mental (mood and executive function) parameters of students and employees of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT) of UNESP after the release of social distance resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. For this, participants will be randomized into groups (control and intervention) and will have immunometabolic parameters (body composition, lipid profile, glucose, insulin, PAI-1, BDNF, adiponectin, and leptin) and mental health parameters (anxiety, depression, and executive function) assessed at the beginning and at the end of the recreational physical training program. It is expected that post-social distancing physical exercise contributes to the improvement of the immunometabolic profile and mental health parameters and, therefore, influences the improvement of mood and performance of the executive function.(AU)