#54 - Exercise and immunity with Dr Michael Gleeson

Dr Glenn McConell chats with Emeritus Professor Michael Gleeson from Loughborough University, England. He is the biggest global name with many decades of research examining the effects of exercise and diet on the immune system. Exercise is beneficial for the immune system unless it is undertaken at a very high /elite level. A very interesting chat. Twitter: @profmikegleeson
0:00. Introduction/Michael’s early career exercise research training
5:41. Early studies on exercise and immune system: Eric Newsholme
6:57. Prolonged exercise reduces plasma glutamine (leukocytes)
8:30. Michael retired in 2016 but still writing books etc
9:56. Increased upper respiratory tract infections after a marathon
11:20. How the immune system responds to prolonged exercise
13:10. What’s going wrong with athletes re their immunity (multifactorial)
16:58. Why does WBC function go down with exercise?
19:42. CHO ingestion during exercise can alter immune function
23:35. Athletes don’t sleep as well, effects immunity
28:00. Moderate levels of physical activity improves immune function
32:18. Very high levels of exercise decreases immune function
36:03. 1-2 hr a day of ex is beneficial for the immune system
37:08. Better outcomes in response to Covid in people that exercise
42:38. Is walking sufficient to improve immune function?
44:35. Does exercise/standing around in cold cause more colds?
48:20. Unless deficient in vitamins and minerals don’t need to supplement
51:45. Vit D / zinc supplementation for athletes?
53:00. Vit D supplementation for ultramarathoners?
55:24. Can detect overtraining using stress/immune markers?
1:03:20. Exerkines, exercise and the immune system
1:07:45. White blood cell levels and exercise
1:11:27. Age and the immune system
1:12:57. Sex differences and the immune system
1:17:35. Do we get sick more often when go on holidays?
1:19:05. Babies need stimulation of their immune systems
1:21:04. Takeaway messages
1:23:35. Smart to push through a cough and keep exercising?
1:26:00. Stress and the immune system
1:27:02. Asthma, bronchitis and air temperature
1:28:02. Most research studies don’t measure if an infection is present
1:30:16. Outro (9 seconds) Inside Exercise brings to you the who's who of research in exercise metabolism, exercise physiology and exercise’s effects on health. With scientific rigor, these researchers discuss popular exercise topics while providing practical strategies for all.
The interviewer, Emeritus Professor Glenn McConell, has an international research profile following 30 years of Exercise Metabolism research experience while at The University of Melbourne, Ball State University, Monash University, the University of Copenhagen and Victoria University.
He has published over 120 peer reviewed journal articles and recently edited an Exercise Metabolism eBook written by world experts on 17 different topics (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-94305-9).
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Not medical advice