Moderate aerobic exercise improves haematological indices without altering cardio-metabolic enzyme activities in sedentary healthy young adults

Background Regular aerobic exercise regulates cardiorespiratory functions by its effect on specific enzyme activities. This study investigated the immediate effects of moderate aerobic exercise on haematological parameters and cardio-metabolic enzymes activity in healthy young male and female adults. Methods Forty young healthy sedentary subjects, twenty males (25 +/- 5.6 years; 65 +/- 4.0 kg; 176.9 +/- 2.5 cm) and twenty females (25 +/- 4.5 years, 62 +/- 2.9 kg, 175 +/- 1.3 cm) volunteered for the study. The exercise regimen was of moderate intensity lasting for 20 min daily on a treadmill at incremental speed of 3 km/h to 13 km/h for 14 consecutive days. The weight and height of participants were measured. Blood sample was collected via antecubital vein for haematological and biochemical analysis. The haematological parameters namely red blood cell and indices, leukocyte and differential white blood cell count, platelet and platelet indices were assessed. Cardiac troponin-T, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and N-acetyl-cysteine activated creatine kinase activities were assessed before and after exercise. Results The result showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in RBC (males 7%, females 11%) haemoglobin (males 8%, females 8.3%), haematocrit (males 5%, females 14%) leukocyte (males 54%, females 40%) and monocyte count (males 68%, females 55%) after 14 days of exercise. The enzymatic activities of lactate dehydrogenase, N-acetyl-cysteine activated creatine kinase (CK-NAC), creatine kinase (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin-T showed no significant change after 14 days of exercise. Conclusion It is concluded that moderate aerobic exercise increased haematological parameters and maintained cardio-metabolic enzymes activities in young male and female adults.