Exercise May Boost Flu Vaccine

British researchers have come up with evidence that mild exercise just before a flu vaccination can increase the potency of the vaccine. The New York Times reports on the study, published in the February issue of Brain, Behavior and Immunity, which found that lifting weights before a vaccination
increased antibody response in women, while reducing it in men. In men,
the Times reports, cell-mediated response — the activation of white blood cells and other
kinds of cellular defenses — was increased.
The paper reports that scientists randomly divided 60 healthy men and women into two
groups, and asked one group of 40 to exercise by lifting weights for about 25 minutes
before receiving their flu shot while the remaining 20 rested for 25 minutes
and then got their shot. When scientists tested their blood 6, 8 and 20 weeks
later, they found a consistently increased immune response in the
exercisers. Read more in the Times.