The Effect of Physical Activity on Spirometry and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Adolescents—Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Highly intense and chronic physical activity may cause an inflammatory process in the airways. The inflammatory process in the respiratory system can be measured either by the spirometry test and exhaled nitric oxide. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different levels of physical activity on fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and spirometry parameters. Fifty healthy students (volunteers) who were participating in physical activity classes (low level of physical activity) and attending sports training (high and medium level of physical activity) completed two indoor exercise training two to three weeks apart. FeNO was measured twice, at baseline and after 45–60 min of exercise followed by spirometry. There was no significant difference in FeNO values and spirometry parameters between the groups with different physical activity. However, students with the highest level of physical activity presented a higher and significant variance of FeNO levels in comparison to students with lower physical activity. Healthy young adults (professional sportspersons) have a higher internal variability of FeNO. That suggests the initial ongoing inflammatory process in the airways. Any level of physical activity does not affect spirometry parameters before and after training in young healthy adults.