Research
Hormonal
Acute resistance training increases plasma Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, which acts as an anti-inflammatory myokine when derived from muscle, promoting fat oxidation via AMPK activation and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α.
Do not fear the rise in IL-6 after a resistance workout. When your muscles produce IL-6 during exercise, it acts as a beneficial signal that helps burn fat and improves insulin sensitivity, unlike the chronic IL-6 produced by fat tissue which contributes to inflammation.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
IL-6 secreted by myocytes appears to be anti-inflammatory... When IL-6 is secreted by muscle, it has been shown that it increases anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-1ra and inhibits IL-1β and TNF-α release with exercise... IL-6 released with exercise seems to induce fat oxidation via AMPK activation.
Why this rating
The paper reviews multiple studies showing IL-6 increases post-RT, but notes the complexity and ongoing debate regarding its specific role compared to TNF-α.
Source
Effects of resistance training on the inflammatory response
Mariana C. Calle et al. · Nutrition Research and Practice · 2010
DOI 10.4162/nrp.2010.4.4.259
narrative_reviewCited 231×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Resistance training improves insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in individuals at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, acting synergistically with the reduction of low-grade systemic inflammation to prevent disease progression.Good
- Long-term resistance training reduces basal levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in overweight, obese, and older populations, thereby mitigating low-grade systemic inflammation associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk.Moderate
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