# 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

PMID: 40200367
Journal: BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation
Published: 2025 Apr 8
Authors: 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.

## Population

- Inactive overweight and obese women
- Sample size: 29
- Age: 18-50 years
- Sex: Women
- Fitness level: Not regularly physically active
- Health status: BMI 25-34.9 kg/m2; major diagnosed disease excluded

## Methodology

- Three-arm randomized controlled exercise intervention
- 8 weeks
- Supervised exercise-training program
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- HIIT.
- Modality: Running.
- Work intervals: 30 seconds at 100% maximum aerobic velocity.
- Recovery: 30 seconds at 50% maximum aerobic velocity.
- Sets or repetitions: 4 reps x 4 sets progressing to 6 reps x 6 sets.
- Intensity: 100% maximum aerobic velocity for work intervals.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 8 weeks.
- Progression: Weeks 1-2: 4x4; weeks 3-4: 6x4; weeks 5-6: 6x5; weeks 7-8: 6x6; 5 minutes between sets.
- Combined training.
- Modality: Resistance training plus running aerobic training.
- Sets or repetitions: Seven resistance exercises, 3 sets of 10-16 repetitions at 60-75% 1RM; running 15-30 minutes at 60-75% heart-rate reserve.
- Intensity: Resistance training 60-75% 1RM; aerobic training 60-75% heart-rate reserve.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 8 weeks.
- Progression: Resistance and aerobic training volume/intensity progressed across weeks.

## Outcomes

### Body composition
Status: improved
BMI and body-fat measures improved in both HIIT and combined training groups.

BMI p=0.001 in abstract-reported group changes.

### Metabolic markers
Status: improved
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.

### Fitness
Status: improved
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.

### Strength
Status: improved
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.

### CTRP
Status: improved
Serum CTRP1 and CTRP3 decreased after both training approaches.

CTRP1 p=0.007; CTRP3 p=0.011.

## Practical 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 And Adherence

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

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40200367/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01123-4) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11977882/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.