Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40889575›Full record

ArticleJournal of sport and health science2025

The effects of a supervised exercise training program during pregnancy on placental cytokines, and the potential role of fetal sex and maternal weight status.

Pedro Acosta-Manzano, Marta Flor-Alemany, Luis J Martínez-González, María Jesús Alvarez-Cubero, Laura Baena-García, Teresa Nestares, Mireille N M Van Poppel, Virginia A Aparicio

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of sport and health science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Pedro Acosta-ManzanoDepartment of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, Graz 8010, Austria; PA-HELP "Physical Activity for Health Promotion, CTS-1018" Research Group, Department of Physical and Sports Education, Faculty of Sports Science, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain; Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada 18007, Spain. Electronic address: pedro.acosta-manzano@uni-graz.at.
Marta Flor-AlemanyDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, Campus of Melilla, University of Granada, Melilla 52001, Spain.
Luis J Martínez-GonzálezGENYO: Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, PTS, Granada 18016, Spain; Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology III and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain.
María Jesús Alvarez-CuberoGENYO: Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, PTS, Granada 18016, Spain; Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology III and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain.
Laura Baena-GarcíaDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain; Biosanitary Research Institute, IBS, University of Granada, Granada 18012, Spain; Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix" (INYTA), University of Granada, Granada 18100, Spain.
Teresa NestaresInstitute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix" (INYTA), University of Granada, Granada 18100, Spain; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada 18011, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada 18016, Spain.
Mireille N M Van PoppelDepartment of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, Graz 8010, Austria.
Virginia A AparicioSport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada 18007, Spain; Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix" (INYTA), University of Granada, Granada 18100, Spain; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada 18011, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada 18016, Spain; Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education and Sport, Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Section, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz 01007, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on the human placenta are poorly understood. The objective of the current study was to ascertain the influence of a supervised concurrent exercise intervention from gestational Week 17 until birth on key cytokines involved in placental development and function. Secondary aims were to explore: (a) the moderating effects of fetal sex and maternal weight status; and (b) whether gestational weight gain, lifestyle behaviors (diet, sleep patterns, and physical activity), and physical fitness (strength and cardiorespiratory fitness) mediated the effects of exercise on placental cytokines.

methodsSeventy-six pregnant women (33 ± 4 years, mean ± SD), divided into exercise (n = 40) and control (n = 36) groups, participated in this study. The exercise group followed a 60-min, 3 days/week (aerobic + resistance) training program of moderate-to-vigorous intensity. Placental cytokines-including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), platelet-derived growth factor AA (PDGF-AA), epidermal growth factor (EGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), fractalkine, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, IL-1β, interleukin 1-receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were analyzed using Luminex multi-analyte profiling (xMAP) technology.

resultsThe exercise group presented higher placental levels of G-CSF and lower concentrations of EGF and IL-1ra than the control group (p < 0.05). Significant effects of exercise on placental G-CSF and TNF-α (p < 0.05) and a trend toward lower IL-6 (p = 0.08) were observed only in female placentas. Additionally, a reduction in weight gain partially mediated the effects of exercise on G-CSF (p < 0.05).

conclusionMaternal exercise during pregnancy is related to increased placental levels of G-CSF and lower EGF and IL-1ra levels. Some exercise-induced effects are observed exclusively in female placentas, including increased G-CSF and lower TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations. Notably, the increased levels of G-CSF observed with exercise might be due to a more adequate gestational weight gain.

Indexed as

GestationLifestylePlacental adaptationsProtein expressionSexual dimorphism

Identifiers

PMID40889575
PMCPMC12874604

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.