Effect of change of interleukin-6 over time on gait speed response: Results from the lifestyle interventions and independence for elders study

Interleukin (IL)-6 is a well-accepted biomarker of chronic low-grade inflammation possibly conditioning the effect of physical activity (PA) intervention on physical performance in mobility-limited older adults. We evaluated PA intervention effects on 400 m gait speed by yearly change of IL-6 levels in a post-hoc analysis from Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study, a multicenter single-blind randomized clinical trial on 1300 sedentary older adults (mean age:78.85 ± 5.23,65.85 % women) at risk for mobility disability. We compared the intervention effects on 400 m gait speed at 12 months follow-up, according to yearly IL-6 change categorized for 1 pg/ml increase or decrease, and subsequently for larger range of yearly variation. Among subjects with yearly IL-6 change between -1 and + 2 pg/ml, we observed a significant difference of gait speed in PA intervention group compared to healthy educational intervention group [0.041 m/s,95 % confidence interval (CI):0.008–0.074,p = 0.006;Cohen's d:0.26, 95 % CI:0.12–0.41). No effects were observed on 400 m gait speed for wider range of variation of plasma IL-6 levels. Limiting change of IL-6 levels under this specific hormetic window could be an important goal to achieve better benefit from PA intervention in terms of gait speed change and prevention of mobility disability.