PMID 32595518

Research
All papers

The Effects of Concurrent Training Combining Both Resistance Exercise and High-Intensity Interval Training or Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Metabolic Syndrome

Da Silva MAR, Baptista LC, Neves RS, De França E, Loureiro H, Lira FS, Caperuto EC, Veríssimo MT, Martins RA

Question

Do different aerobic intensities, HIIT versus moderate continuous aerobic training, produce different metabolic, body composition, and hemodynamic responses when each is combined with resistance training in adults and older adults with metabolic syndrome?

Summary

In sedentary adults and older adults with metabolic syndrome, 12 weeks of supervised concurrent resistance training plus HIIT improved waist circumference, fasting glucose, LDL cholesterol, insulin, and HOMA-IR within the HIIT group. Concurrent resistance plus moderate continuous training improved waist circumference and nearly reduced triglycerides, but neither exercise program improved body weight, fat mass, HbA1c, HDL, total cholesterol, blood pressure, or hsCRP over this short intervention.

Methodology

  • Sedentary adults and older adults with metabolic syndrome.
  • 39 participants.
  • Resistance training plus fast walking/running HIIT.
  • Work intervals: 3 min at 80-90% HRmax.
  • Recovery: 3 min active walking recovery at 55-65% HRmax.
  • Intensity: HIIT 80-90% HRmax; resistance Borg CR-10 2-5.
  • About 50 min.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 12 weeks.
  • Three-arm randomized clinical trial comparing RT plus HIIT, RT plus MICT, and no-formal-exercise control.
  • Waist circumference, Glucose-insulin profile, Blood lipids, and Blood pressure were tracked.

Outcomes

Waist circumference

Both RT+MICT and RT+HIIT reduced waist circumference within group.

RT+MICT p=0.019; RT+HIIT p=0.003.

Improved

Glucose-insulin profile

RT+HIIT improved fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR; HbA1c did not change.

Glucose p=0.014; insulin p=0.034; HOMA-IR p=0.028; HbA1c p>=0.05.

Improved

Lipids

RT+HIIT reduced LDL within group, RT+MICT nearly reduced triglycerides, and control also reduced LDL.

RT+HIIT LDL p=0.022; RT+MICT TG p=0.053; control LDL p=0.031.

Mixed

Blood pressure and inflammation

Neither exercise program significantly changed systolic, diastolic, mean arterial pressure, or hsCRP.

All p>=0.05.

No clear change

Insights

  • Combining resistance training with walk-run HIIT can be feasible for screened older adults with metabolic syndrome under supervision.
  • Short-term RT+HIIT may be more relevant for glucose-insulin outcomes than for blood pressure or body weight.
  • Claims should stay cautious because most favorable findings were within-group changes in a small trial.

Limitations

  • Small sample size with 13 participants per group.
  • Short 12-week intervention.
  • Diet and medications were incompletely controlled.
  • Wide age range and mostly female sample.
  • Between-group effects were limited despite within-group improvements.

Safety

  • No exercise-related adverse events were reported.
  • Sessions were supervised by an exercise physiologist.
  • High-risk cardiovascular and renal conditions were excluded.