It's well-known that regular exercise comes with health benefits, but exactly how those benefits manifest at the cellular level isn't clear. Now, researchers have identified a series of changes in metabolism and the immune system that differentiate regular exercisers from people with sedentary lifestyles.
The findings, published Sept. 18 in the journal Science Advances, point to potential pathways for managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, the scientists say.
The team of researchers analyzed data from the Chinese Immune Multi-omics Atlas (CIMA), which includes data from 400 adults who gave blood samples and answered an in-depth questionnaire about their lifestyles.
To capture the biggest possible effects of exercise, the team included only data from participants who did the most or least exercise. One group worked out at least three times a week, racking up more than 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise in that timeframe. The sedentary group said they did not work out at all.
The researchers then analyzed their volunteers...
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