Aging is often accompanied by a decline in fitness. We rarely notice this in everyday life, but when we exert ourselves physically we notice that we used to be more efficient. As we age, the activity of important enzymes called sirtuins also decreases. So is there a connection between fitness and sirtuin activity? Scientific studies say yes.

Let's imagine that our body is like a used car: age and mileage provide information about its condition. But unlike cars, we humans can fight against deterioration. We can react to stress and protect ourselves, as well as repair damage ourselves. This is where sirtuins come into play—enzymes that control these processes.

Scientific studies are investigating the importance of exercise for sirtuin activity. The researchers analyzed studies on sirtuins and exercise and focused on the enzymes SIRT 1 and SIRT 3. They found that exercise increases the production of sirtuins in skeletal muscle. The type of exercise plays a role:

  • A single stress event activates SIRT 1, which builds new body structures and strengthens the mitochondria, our cellular power plants.

  • Regular exercise also activates SIRT 3, which stimulates not only the mitochondria but also the production of the energy molecule ATP.

Different types of training activate different sirtuins, which in turn stimulate different metabolic processes. These processes improve the health of our mitochondria, which provide us with energy at any age. Because, as the saying goes, you are only as old as you feel.