PMID 37858156

Research
All papers

Effect of resistance training and high-intensity interval training on metabolic parameters and serum level of Sirtuin1 in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Kazemi SS, Heidarianpour A, Shokri E

Question

Do 8 weeks of HIIT and resistance training improve metabolic syndrome indicators and serum SIRT1 in postmenopausal women, and is HIIT more effective than resistance training for metabolic outcomes?

Summary

This randomized clinical trial compared 8 weeks of HIIT, resistance training, and usual routine in inactive postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome. Both exercise programs improved body composition, VO2peak, lipids, blood pressure, glucose/HbA1c, and SIRT1 versus baseline, while HIIT produced larger reductions in systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting glucose, and HbA1c. Resistance training produced larger gains in skeletal muscle mass and 1-repetition maximum strength.

Methodology

  • Inactive postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.
  • 45 participants.
  • Brisk walking/running intervals with walking recovery.
  • Work intervals: 3 minutes at 80-90% HRmax.
  • Recovery: 3 minutes moderate walking at 55-65% HRmax.
  • Intensity: 80-90% estimated HRmax during work; 55-65% during recovery.
  • 10-minute warm-up, interval work/recovery block, 5-minute cooldown.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Randomized clinical trial with HIIT, resistance training, and control groups.
  • Body composition, Metabolic syndrome markers, Blood pressure, and SIRT1 were tracked.

Outcomes

Metabolic syndrome markers

Both training groups reduced weight, waist circumference, BMI, fat mass, LDL, triglyceride, cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and systolic/diastolic blood pressure and increased SIRT1.

Reported significant within training groups, p<0.05.

Improved

HIIT versus resistance training

HIIT produced larger reductions in systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, HbA1c, and fasting blood sugar and a larger VO2peak increase; resistance training produced larger skeletal muscle mass and 1RM gains.

Between-exercise differences reported p<0.05 for cholesterol, SBP, FBS, VO2peak, and muscle/strength outcomes; no significant difference for SIRT1.

Mixed

Control group

No significant variations were observed in the control group.

Reported p>0.05.

No clear change

SIRT1

SIRT1 increased in both exercise groups, with no meaningful difference between HIIT and resistance training.

Training groups p<0.05; between exercise programs p>0.05.

Improved

Insights

  • Three-minute HIIT intervals with three-minute walking recoveries are a plausible clinical pattern for older women when supervised.
  • HIIT may target metabolic markers more strongly while resistance training may target muscle mass and strength.
  • For HIITplay, this supports combining cardio intervals and resistance work rather than treating them as interchangeable.

Limitations

  • Small sample of 15 per group.
  • The paper describes the study as cross-sectional in limitations despite randomized trial design, creating reporting ambiguity.
  • Food intake and drinking habits were not recorded.
  • No detailed adherence, dropout, or adverse-event reporting.
  • Clinical postmenopausal metabolic syndrome population limits generalization.

Safety

  • No explicit adverse-event reporting was found in the paper.
  • Exercise familiarization was performed to minimize errors and injuries.
  • Participants with decompensated heart failure and chronic musculoskeletal disease were excluded.