Toronto: Workouts can keep obesity at bay by turning influential stem cells into bone, not fat, boosting our capacity to make blood and improving overall health.

The body's mesenchymal stem cells or MSCs are most likely to become fat or bone, depending on which path they follow. MSCs can also turn into a variety of cell types.

Using treadmill-conditioned mice, a team led by kinesiologist Gianni Parise at the McMaster University has shown that aerobic exercise triggers those cells to become bone more often than fat.

The exercising mice ran less than an hour, thrice a week, enough time to have a significant impact on their blood production, the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology reports associate professor Parise as saying.

In sedentary mice, the same stem cells were more likely to become fat, impairing blood production in the marrow cavities of bones, according to a McMaster's statement.

"The interesting thing was that a modest exercise programme was able to significantly increase blood cells in the marrow and in circulation," says Parise.

"What we're suggesting is that exercise is a potent stimulus - enough to actually trigger a switch in these mesenchymal stem cells."

The composition of cells in the bone marrow cavity has an important influence on the productivity of blood stem cells.

In ideal conditions, blood stem cells create healthy blood that boosts the immune system, permits the efficient uptake of oxygen, and improves the ability to clot wounds.

 

Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Haren Pandya Murder: Sisters blame Modi; to approach PM for justice

Following in the footsteps of their late father, the two sisters of BJP leader and former minister Haren Pandya who was killed in 2003 have decided to approach Prime Minister  »

Gujarat ex-minister alleges conspiracy in Haren Pandya case

Haren Pandya case: 12 acquitted of murder charge

  Most Read

The government Friday accused the opposition of adopting an "obstructionist" attitude in parliament and  »

Parliament stalled over Gujarat Lokayukta issue

12 RTI activists killed; report calls them 'sitting ducks'

At least 12 Right to Information (RTI) activists have been killed in the line of duty since last year - the latest victim being Shehla Masood of Bhopal whose death has raised a huge furore - a report said Friday. Titled 'RTI Activists: Sitting ducks of India', the report by the Asian Centre for Human Rights  »

  News Pick

Notice to Delhi government on panel to examine school fee hike

The Delhi High Court Friday issued notice to the Delhi government on an application seeking immediate setting up of a court-mandated panel to audit the accounts of private schools   »

CBI raids Lok Sabha Speaker's secretary

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday carried out raids at the houses of A.P. Pathak, secretary to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, in connection with a graft case against him. "A disproportionate  »

Notice to Delhi government on panel to examine school fee hike

The Delhi High Court Friday issued notice to the Delhi government on an application seeking immediate setting up of a court-mandated panel to audit the accounts of private schools   »

Gutka, paan masala are banned food in new guidelines

Chewing tobacco, like gutka and paan masala, has been included among banned "food products" in the government's new food safety guidelines. The move has been welcomed by health activists. Coming close on  »

Picture of the Day

The 27th of Ramadan (August 26, 2011 this year), "Laylet al-Qadr" (Night of Power), is one of the holiest nights of the Islamic calendar, the night when the Quran began to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Millions from around the world visit the Grand Mosque in Makkah from all over the world and pray over the night.