PMID 36978202

Research
All papers

Effects of eight-week high-intensity interval training on some metabolic, hormonal and cardiovascular indices in women with PCOS: a randomized controlled trail

Mohammadi S, Monazzami A, Alavimilani S

Question

Does an 8-week supervised high-intensity interval running program improve anthropometric, metabolic, hormonal, inflammatory, and cardiovascular indices in women with PCOS?

Summary

In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, 8 weeks of supervised running HIIT improved several anthropometric, fitness, insulin-resistance, lipid, and hormonal markers compared with a no-exercise control. VO2max rose, weight/BMI/body fat/waist-hip ratio and visceral adipose tissue decreased, and insulin/HOMA-IR/LDL/total cholesterol improved. The study was small, clinical, and used treadmill/running speeds based on maximal aerobic speed.

Methodology

  • Women aged 18-40 years with PCOS diagnosed by Rotterdam criteria and no exercise history in the previous year.
  • 28 participants.
  • Running based on maximal aerobic speed.
  • Work intervals: 30 seconds at 100% maximum aerobic speed.
  • Recovery: 30 seconds active recovery at 50% maximum aerobic speed; 5 minutes inactive recovery between laps.
  • Intensity: 100% MAV during work and 50% MAV during active recovery.
  • Not fully stated; included 15 minute warm-up plus interval sets/laps and 5 minute rests between laps.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 consecutive weeks.
  • Randomized parallel controlled trial
  • Anthropometrics and body composition, Aerobic fitness, Glucose metabolism, and Lipids, inflammatory and hormonal markers were tracked.

Outcomes

Body composition and VO2max

HIIT reduced weight, BMI, body fat percentage, WHR, and VAT while increasing VO2max; controls were unchanged.

Within-HIIT p=0.001 for weight, BMI, fat percentage, WHR, VAT, VO2max; between-group p=0.001.

Improved

Insulin resistance

Insulin and HOMA-IR decreased and QUICKI increased after HIIT.

Insulin, HOMA-IR, QUICKI within-HIIT and between-group p=0.001.

Improved

Lipids and cardiovascular risk

LDL and total cholesterol improved, but HDL, triglycerides, glucose, VAI, homocysteine, and hs-CRP did not significantly change compared with control.

LDL and TC p=0.001; AIP between-group p=0.027; FPG, HDL, TG, homocysteine, hs-CRP not significant.

Mixed

Hormonal markers

The testosterone/cortisol ratio improved with HIIT, driven by reported hormonal changes.

TS/C ratio within-HIIT p=0.009 and between-group p=0.001.

Improved

Insights

  • Clinical PCOS users may respond to structured vigorous intervals, but the running workload was individualized from maximal aerobic speed and supervised.
  • The 30-second work / 30-second active recovery format is app-translatable, but the volume and lap/set structure are complex.
  • Do not generalize PCOS clinical biomarker findings to all users.

Limitations

  • Small sample size due to limited available subjects.
  • Short 8-week training period.
  • Dietary intake and energy expenditure were not controlled.
  • Clinical PCOS-only female sample limits generalizability.

Safety

  • Two participants were excluded during protocol implementation; reasons were not detailed in the paper.
  • No adverse events were described.
  • Sessions were supervised by an international coach.