Influence of Physical Activity on Blood Indicators and Vitamin D Level in the Blood of Elderly

INTERVENTION: • The first experimental group (NW) ‐ this group consisted of 20 women who underwent a 6‐month Nordic walking training. • The second experimental group (R) ‐ this group consisted of 18 women who underwent a 6‐month training on a cycloergometer. NW group The subjects in the NW group underwent 6‐month (72 sessions) Nordic walking training. Classes were held outdoors (park) 3 times a week from April to September 2019. The duration of each training unit was 1 hour, which consisted of: • introductory part (about 10 minutes) ‐ to warm up and prepare the body, including strengthening and stretching exercises (Borg 6‐8 scale), • main part (about 45 minutes) ‐ in this part, the participants marched using the Nordic walking technique with the intensity defined at the level of the first ventilation threshold (VT1), during which the optimal heart rate (HR) was determined (Borg scale 10‐12) , • final part (approx. 5‐10 minutes) ‐ calming down, consisting of stretching, breathing and relaxation exercises (Borg 6‐8 scale). All sessions were providing by physiotherapists in groups of no more than 10 people. Session attendence checklist were checked before start the every session. Before starting the program, the respondents participated in 3 classes (weekly 1‐hour) aimed at getting acquainted with the correct technique of Nordic walking. Classes were providing by physiotherapists. Group R. The subjects in group R underwent a 6‐month training (72 sessions) on cycloergometers. Classes were held in a gym equipped with stationary bicycles, 3 times a week from April to September 2019. The duration of each training unit was 1 hour, which consisted of: • introductory part (approx. 10 minutes) ‐ aimed at warming up and preparing the body for the main part CONDITION: Diet and Nutrition ‐ Other diet and nutrition disorders Mental Health ‐ Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour Musculoskeletal ‐ Other muscular and skeletal disorders Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation ‐ Physiotherapy Sarcopaenia;Vitamin D deficiency;Quality of life;Aging process; ; Sarcopaenia ; Vitamin D deficiency ; Quality of life ; Aging process INCLUSION CRITERIA: ‐ Female, ‐ age: 65‐74 years old, ‐ no previous contact with Nordic walking training or on a cyclo‐ergometer, ‐ a medical certificate that there are no contraindications to exercise, ‐ written consent to voluntary participation in the research project. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Assessment of changes in hematological properties of blood such as the red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin level (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), platelets count (PLT), mean corpuscular hemoglobin/mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration which were determined using ABX MICROS 60 (USA) hematology analyzer.[Baseline, 3 months post commencement of intervention/observation, 6 months (primary endpoint) post commencement of intervention/observation] Assessment of changes in rheological properties of blood such as the erythrocyte elongation index (EI), erythrocyte aggregation indexes (AI), i.e. AMP ‐ total aggregation, T1/2 ‐ half time of total aggregation and fibrinogen level which were determined using Analizator Laser‐assisted Optical Rotational Cell Analyser (LORCA) RR Mechatronics.[Baseline, 3 months post commencement of intervention/observation, 6 months (primary endpoint) post commencement of intervention/observation] Evaluation of changes in the level of calcidiol (D‐OH 25) in blood serum by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent method (ELISA) using high‐sensitivity reagent kits from DRG Instruments Gmbh (Germany)[Baseline, 3 months post commencement of intervention/observation, 6 months (primary endpoint) post commencement of intervention/observation] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Assessment of changes in protein profile such as total protein, albumins, alpha‐1‐globulin, alpha‐2‐globulin, beta‐1‐glubulin, beta‐2‐globulin, gamma‐globulin, albumin/globulin ratio which were determined using Cobas 6000, Roche analyzer. The measurement was carried out according to the principles of the colorimetric test ‐ the biuret method. For the measurement blood samples were used. [Baseline, 3 months post commencement of intervention/observation, 6 months post commencement of intervention/observation] Evaluation of changes in the insulin level. The electrochemiluminescence test "ECLIA" using the Elecsys / Cobas e 602 analyzer was used to determine the level of insulin in the blood. Measurements were made in accordance with the sandwich test control.[Baseline, 3 months post commencement of intervention/observation, 6 months post commencement of intervention/observation] Evaluation of changes in the iron level which were determined using a colorimetric test ‐ ferrosine method without deproteinization. The tests were performed using the Cobas c 501 analyzer. For the measurement blood samples were used. [Baseline, 3 months post commencement of intervention/observation, 6 months post commencement of intervention/observation] Evaluation of changes in the lipid profiles: high density lipoprotein (HDL) which was was determined using the precipitation method, polyethylene glycol‐modified cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase were used for the purpose of community application, low density lipoprotein (LDL) which was was calculated automatically for each blood sample analyzed using the direct determination of total cholesterol, HDL and triglicerydes (TG) and the standard Friedewald formula, triglicerydes (TG) by enzymatic end‐point method using 4 enzymes: lipase, glycerol kinase, glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, diaphorase.[Baseline, 3 months post commencement of intervention/observation, 6 months post commencement of intervention/observation] Evaluation of functional fitness using Senior Fitness Test (Fullerton test). [Baseline, 3 months post commencement of intervention/observation, 6 months post commencement of intervention/observation] Quality of life assessed using the SF‐36 Quality of Life Questionnaire[Baseline, 3 months post commencement of intervention/observation, 6 months post commencement of intervention/observation]