PROmoting FITness and Health Through Physical Activity Research Group (PROFITH), Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Camino de Alfacar s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain.
EFFECTS-262 Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. de la Investigación 11, 18016, Granada, Spain.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021 Aug;121(8):2193-2206. doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04692-7. Epub 2021 Apr 22.
Physical inactivity and ageing are associated with imbalances in anabolic/catabolic steroid hormones, jeopardizing health. We investigated the effects of three types of training on plasma steroid hormone levels in physically inactive, middle-aged adults.
A 12-week randomized controlled trial was performed with a parallel-group design. A total of 67 (36 women) middle-aged adults (45-65 years old) were randomly assigned to (1) no exercise (control), (2) concurrent training based on the international physical activity recommendations (PAR), (3) high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or (4) HIIT plus whole-body electromyostimulation (HIIT + EMS). The training volume in the PAR group was 150 min/week at 60-65% of the heart rate reserve for aerobic training and ~ 60 min/week at 40-50% of the one-repetition maximum for resistance training. The training volume in the HIIT and HIIT + EMS groups was 40-65 min/week at > 95% of the maximum oxygen uptake in long interval sessions, and > 120% of the maximum oxygen uptake in short interval sessions.
Compared to the control group, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate increased in the PAR, HIIT, and HIIT + EMS groups (~ 14%, ~ 14%, and ~ 20%, respectively; all P < 0.01). Cortisol decreased in the PAR, HIIT, and HIIT + EMS groups (~ - 17%, ~ - 10%, and ~ - 23%, respectively; all P ≤ 0.05). Testosterone increased in the HIIT and HIIT + EMS groups (~ 28%, and ~ 16%, respectively; all P ≤ 0.01). Free testosterone increased in the HIIT and HIIT + EMS groups (~ 30% and ~ 18% respectively; all P ≤ 0.01). No significant increase in sex hormone-binding globulin was observed (P = 0.869).
Our findings suggest that HIIT, with or without whole-body EMS, can significantly enhance steroid hormones status in previously physically inactive middle-aged adults. The PAR program led to slight improvements than the HIIT and HIIT + EMS groups despite the application of a higher training volume.
NCT03334357 (ClinicalTrials.gov). November 7, 2017 retrospectively registered.
体力活动不足和衰老与合成代谢/分解代谢类固醇激素失衡有关，危及健康。我们研究了三种训练类型对久坐不动的中年成年人血浆类固醇激素水平的影响。
这是一项采用平行组设计的 12 周随机对照试验。共有 67 名（36 名女性）中年成年人（45-65 岁）被随机分为（1）不运动（对照组）、（2）基于国际体力活动建议的同时训练（PAR）、（3）高强度间歇训练（HIIT）或（4）HIIT 加全身肌电刺激（HIIT+EMS）。PAR 组的训练量为每周 150 分钟，运动强度为心率储备的 60-65%，用于有氧运动，每周 60-50%用于最大重复次数的阻力训练。HIIT 和 HIIT+EMS 组的训练量为每周 40-65 分钟，在长间歇期间达到最大摄氧量的>95%，在短间歇期间达到最大摄氧量的>120%。
与对照组相比，PAR、HIIT 和 HIIT+EMS 组的硫酸脱氢表雄酮（DHEA-S）增加（分别约为 14%、14%和 20%；均 P<0.01）。皮质醇在 PAR、HIIT 和 HIIT+EMS 组中减少（分别为-17%、-10%和-23%；均 P≤0.05）。HIIT 和 HIIT+EMS 组的睾酮增加（分别约为 28%和 16%；均 P≤0.01）。HIIT 和 HIIT+EMS 组游离睾酮增加（分别约为 30%和 18%；均 P≤0.01）。未观察到性激素结合球蛋白显著增加（P=0.869）。
我们的研究结果表明，HIIT 结合或不结合全身 EMS 可以显著提高久坐不动的中年成年人的类固醇激素水平。尽管 PAR 方案应用了更高的训练量，但与 HIIT 和 HIIT+EMS 组相比，其效果仅略好。
NCT03334357（ClinicalTrials.gov）。2017 年 11 月 7 日回顾性注册。
