Nordic Walking Rather Than High Intensity Interval Training Reduced Myostatin Concentration More Effectively in Elderly Subjects and the Range of This Drop Was Modified by Metabolites of Vitamin D

Micielska K, Flis M, Kortas JA, Rodziewicz-Flis E, Antosiewicz J, Wochna K, Lombardi G, Ziemann E

Question

Do Nordic walking and cycling HIIT alter myostatin, decorin, osteocalcin, vitamin D metabolites, and metabolic markers in older adults?

Summary

In older overweight adults, a longer Nordic walking program reduced myostatin more than a short cycling HIIT program; the HIIT arm did not significantly change the measured exerkines or metabolic markers.

Methodology

Healthy middle-aged to elderly overweight adults.
32 participants.
Cycle ergometer.
Work intervals: 1 min.
Recovery: 1 min free cycling.
Intensity: About 90% HRmax; individualized 1.5-2.5 W/kg.
25 min.
3 sessions/week.
2 weeks.
Two-group exercise intervention; randomization unclear
Myostatin, and Metabolic markers were tracked.

Outcomes

Myostatin

Nordic walking reduced myostatin; HIIT did not.

Nordic walking p=0.05.

Mixed

HIIT biomarkers

HIIT did not significantly change measured exerkines or metabolic markers.

No clear change

Insights

For older adults, lower-intensity higher-volume exercise may outperform short HIIT for some biomarker goals.
Comparisons need duration and dose context.

Limitations

Intervention durations not matched
Randomization unclear
Small sample
Diet not fully controlled
Only one post-intervention blood timepoint

Safety

No adverse events were reported.
Medical screening excluded bone disease, diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiorespiratory disorders, and orthopedic issues.
HIIT was supervised with heart-rate/cadence biofeedback; analysis required 100% HIIT attendance.