Conclusion This is the first study to demonstrate that a higher predictive IL-6 cut-off level should be determined for aging sarcopenia in men than in women
Background Aging sarcopenia characterized by low muscle mass with low muscle strength affects men and women differently .
The contribution of interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) to sarcopenia has been suggested based on a negative correlation between plasma IL-6 and muscle function described by some studies .
However , no consensus regarding clinical ly relevant cut-off criteria has been reached .
Another question arises whether pooling male and female data is an accurate way to determine the predictive value of IL-6 in sarcopenia .
The present meta- analysis was design ed to assess : ( 1 ) whether plasma IL-6 in aged population s in fact correlates negatively to muscle strength ; ( 2 ) whether such a correlation exists both in men and in women ; and ( 3 ) whether plasma IL-6 shows a gender difference in old age .
Muscle cytokine mRNA changes after 2.5 h of cycling: influence of carbohydrate.
PURPOSE To study the effect of carbohydrate compared to placebo ingestion on plasma cytokines and muscle cytokine mRNA following 2.5 h of intensive cycling in 15 trained cyclists . METHODS Fifteen trained cyclists cycled for 2.5 h at 60 % Wmax on two occasions while receiving 4 mL.kg.15 min carbohydrate ( 6 % ) ( CHO ) or placebo ( PLA ) beverages in a r and omized , counterbalanced design . Blood and vastus lateralis muscle biopsy sample s were collected before and after exercise and 12 h postexercise and compared to sample s taken from five cyclists who rested in the lab during the exercise sessions . Blood cell counts were determined , and plasma was analyzed for interleukin (IL)-6 , IL-10 , IL-1 receptor antagonist ( ra ) , IL-8 , cortisol , epinephrine , glucose , and insulin . Muscle was analyzed for glycogen content and relative gene expression of four cytokines , IL-6 , IL-8 , tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) alpha , and IL-1beta , using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction . RESULTS Plasma glucose and insulin were higher , and epinephrine , cortisol , IL-6 , IL-10 , and IL-1ra , but not IL-8 , were significantly lower postexercise in CHO versus PLA .  Muscle glycogen content decreased 68 % immediately postexercise and the pattern of change did not differ between CHO and PLA .  Muscle IL-6 , IL-8 , TNF-alpha , but not IL-1beta mRNA increased immediately postexercise compared to controls , with no differences between CHO and PLA . CONCLUSION CHO compared to PLA beverage ingestion attenuated the increase in plasma cortisol , epinephrine , IL-6 , IL-10 , and IL-1ra , but not muscle IL-6 , IL-8 , and TNF-alpha mRNA in athletes cycling 2.5 h at 60 % Wmax
Conclusion This is the first study to demonstrate that a higher predictive IL-6 cut-off level should be determined for aging sarcopenia in men than in women
Background Aging sarcopenia characterized by low muscle mass with low muscle strength affects men and women differently .
The contribution of interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) to sarcopenia has been suggested based on a negative correlation between plasma IL-6 and muscle function described by some studies .
However , no consensus regarding clinical ly relevant cut-off criteria has been reached .
Another question arises whether pooling male and female data is an accurate way to determine the predictive value of IL-6 in sarcopenia .
The present meta- analysis was design ed to assess : ( 1 ) whether plasma IL-6 in aged population s in fact correlates negatively to muscle strength ; ( 2 ) whether such a correlation exists both in men and in women ; and ( 3 ) whether plasma IL-6 shows a gender difference in old age .