PMID 40200367

Research
All papers

Exercise-induced changes in insulin sensitivity, atherogenic index of plasma, and CTRP1/CTRP3 levels: the role of combined and high-intensity interval training in overweight and obese women

Shahiddoust F, Monazzami AA

Question

Do 8 weeks of combined training and HIIT improve insulin sensitivity, atherogenic index of plasma, and CTRP1/CTRP3 levels in overweight and obese women?

Summary

In overweight and obese women, 8 weeks of supervised HIIT or combined resistance plus aerobic training improved body composition, lipid and glucose markers, liver enzymes, functional capacity, and CTRP adipokines compared with baseline and control. The HIIT protocol used 30-second running intervals at 100% maximum aerobic velocity with 30-second active recovery at 50% maximum aerobic velocity, three times per week.

Methodology

  • Inactive overweight and obese women
  • 29 participants.
  • Running.
  • Work intervals: 30 seconds at 100% maximum aerobic velocity.
  • Recovery: 30 seconds at 50% maximum aerobic velocity.
  • Intensity: 100% maximum aerobic velocity for work intervals.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Three-arm randomized controlled exercise intervention
  • Body composition, Glycemic control, Lipids, and Functional capacity were tracked.

Outcomes

Body composition

BMI and body-fat measures improved in both HIIT and combined training groups.

BMI p=0.001 in abstract-reported group changes.

Improved

Metabolic markers

Triglycerides, LDL, HOMA-IR, AST, and ALT improved after both exercise interventions.

TG p=0.001, LDL p=0.012, HOMA-IR p=0.018, AST p=0.001, ALT p=0.001.

Improved

Fitness

VO2max improved in both groups, with a larger abstract-reported percentage improvement for HIIT.

VO2max p=0.001; abstract reports 8% HIIT and 2.4% combined training.

Improved

Strength

1RM improved in both groups, with a larger abstract-reported percentage improvement for combined training.

1RM p=0.001; abstract reports 2.5% HIIT and 14.2% combined training.

Improved

CTRP

Serum CTRP1 and CTRP3 decreased after both training approaches.

CTRP1 p=0.007; CTRP3 p=0.011.

Improved

Insights

  • A 30:30 running HIIT format can be volume-progressed by increasing repetitions and sets.
  • For overweight/obese inactive women, vigorous interval claims should be paired with health screening boundaries.
  • Strength outcomes should not be inferred from HIIT alone when combined training showed larger 1RM changes.

Limitations

  • Small sample size
  • Short duration
  • Women only
  • No dietary monitoring
  • No follow-up
  • No adverse-event details reported

Safety

  • No adverse events were reported in the the paper.
  • The trial excluded participants with major cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, metabolic, and cancer diagnoses.