Effects of 6-month aerobic interval training on skeletal muscle metabolism in middle-aged metabolic syndrome patients

A Guadalupe-Grau, V E Fernández-Elías, J F Ortega, F Dela, J W Helge, R Mora-Rodriguez

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aerobic interval training (AIT) improves the health of metabolic syndrome patients (MetS) more than moderate intensity continuous training. However, AIT has not been shown to reverse all metabolic syndrome risk factors, possibly due to the limited duration of the training programs. Thus, we assessed the effects of 6 months of AIT on cardio-metabolic health and muscle metabolism in middle-aged MetS. Eleven MetS (54.5±0.7 years old) underwent 6 months of 3 days a week supervised AIT program on a cycle ergometer. Cardio-metabolic health was assessed, and muscle biopsies were collected from the vastus lateralis prior and at the end of the program. Body fat mass (-3.8%), waist circumference (-1.8%), systolic (-10.1%), and diastolic (-9.3%) blood pressure were reduced, whereas maximal fat oxidation rate and VO2peak were significantly increased (38.9% and 8.0%, respectively; all P<.05). The remaining components of cardio-metabolic health measured (body weight, blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose) were not changed after the intervention, and likewise, insulin sensitivity (CSi) remained unchanged. Total AMPK (23.4%), GLUT4 (20.5%), endothelial lipase (33.3%) protein expression, and citrate synthase activity (26.0%) increased with training (P<.05). Six months of AIT in MetS raises capacity for fat oxidation during exercise and increases VO2peak in combination with skeletal muscle improvements in mitochondrial enzyme activity. Muscle proteins involved in glucose, fat metabolism, and energy cell balance improved, although this was not reflected by parallel improvements in insulin sensitivity or blood lipid profile.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
Volume28
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)585-595
Number of pages11
ISSN0905-7188
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2018

Keywords

  • Adiposity
  • Blood Glucose/analysis
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Weight
  • Cholesterol/blood
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome/metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Triglycerides/blood
  • Waist Circumference

Cite this