A comparison of CrossFit and concurrent training on myonectin, insulin resistance and physical performance in healthy young women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of CrossFit and concurrent aerobic + resistance training (CT) on circulating myonectin levels, insulin resistance index, and physical performance in young women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty healthy women were randomly assigned to CrossFit (n = 16) and CT (n = 14) groups, exercising three sessions per week for eight weeks. Serum myonectin levels, insulin resistance index, body composition, and performance variables were evaluated before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: Neither the CrossFit nor the CT group improved in myonectin levels and insulin resistance index. While, fat percentage, muscle mass, upper-limb strength, VO2max, HR at rest, lower body mean power output, and upper body peak power output improved more after CrossFit than the CT. CONCLUSION: It seems that CrossFit exercises by targeting multiple fitness components in one exercise session may allow participants to perform more activity in less time.

Interactive effect of exercise training and growth hormone administration on histopathological and functional assessment of the liver in male Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Abuse of growth hormone (GH) is expanding in exercising populations due to its lipolytic and anabolic actions. The purpose of this study was to examine the interactive effect of exercise training and GH administration on histopathological and functional assessment in the liver of male Wistar rats. METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups including control + saline group (CS), GH injection group (GI), resistance training + saline group (RS), aerobic training + saline group (AS), resistance training + GH injection group (RG), aerobic training + GH injection group (AG). All groups were injected with either saline or GH 1 h before each training session. RT and AT were performed five days/week for a total of 8-weeks. At the end of the study, blood samples and liver tissue samples were taken to evaluate circulating AST, ALT, and ALP enzymes, as well as albumin protein. Histopathology of liver tissue was performed via qualitative microscopic evaluation. RESULTS: Microscopic evaluation of liver tissue did not show any histopathologic changes. All the groups administered with GH showed a significant increase in ALT, ALP, and albumin protein (P<0.05). However, AST enzyme concentrations increased significantly only in the RG group (P=0.022). In addition, neither RS nor the AS groups showed significant AST, ALT, and ALP changes, but serum albumin concentration significantly increased in the AS group (P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of liver enzymes showed that GH administration with or without exercise training might cause severe liver damage.

Effect of Exercise Training on Spexin Level, Appetite, Lipid Accumulation Product, Visceral Adiposity Index, and Body Composition in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes.

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of resistance and aerobic training (RT and AT) on spexin (SPX), appetite, lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and body composition in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six T2DM men were randomized to receive RT (n = 12), AT (n = 12), or to act as a non-exercise control (CON, n = 12) 3 days a week for 12 weeks. Results: SPX was increased after both RT and AT (66.2% and 46.5%, respectively). VAI, LAP, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were reduced in both groups, while quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (Quicki) and McAuley's indexes were increased following both interventions. However, the increases of both hunger and PFC in the RT group were greater than those of the AT. Moreover, the improvement of upper-body strength (41% vs. 10.3%) and lower-body strength (42.2% vs. 20.5%) in the RT group was greater than those of the AT. Conclusion: Our investigation shows that regardless of the modes of the regimen, a 12-week exercise intervention with RT and AT can effectively induce a significant improvement in SPX levels, appetite, LAP, VAI, and body composition in adults with T2DM.

Comparing the effects of six-months aerobic training on pulmonary function tests in obese and nonobese women.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is becoming a serious public health issue in the world and is associated with a wide range of health conditions, including respiratory diseases. Prolonged aerobic exercises are thought to improve aerobic capacity and to have a favorable effect on lung function. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the comparison the effects of six months of aerobic training on pulmonary function tests in obese and nonobese women. METHODS: The subjects of this study were nineteen healthy and inactive females assigned into the obese (N.=10) and nonobese (N.=9) groups. The exercise protocol included aerobic exercise training lasted for 6 months and 3 sessions per week and every session lasted for 60 minutes and with intensity of 55-65 percent of maximum heart rate reserve. Before starting program, the anthropometric measurements of subjects such as weight, percent body fat and body mass Index was measured by body composition analyzer and lung function tests were carried out by using a spirometer. RESULTS: Obese women have lower values of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, Vt and MVV when compared with nonobese group but the difference did not reach significant level. Also, the results of this study showed that there are significant differences in FVE1 Index and MVV tests in obese and nonobese groups in pretest and post-test, but FVC Index increased significantly just in obese group. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that if the training program is done in appropriate time and intensity, which leads to weight loss in obese people, it can lead to improve all Index of pulmonary function.

The Impact of High-Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Ankle-Brachial Index in Middle-Aged Women.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity has been linked to cardiovascular risk factors characterized by endothelial dysfunction and arterial wall thickening. Regular exercise training is recognized as a powerful tool to improve endothelial function and cardiovascular risk profile, but it is unknown which of high-intensity interval training or moderate-intensity continuous training is the best exercise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 inactive and overweight women aged 40-50 years old and body mass index >27 kg/m2 were randomized to high-intensity interval training, moderate-intensity continuous training, or control. The exercise intervention consisted of 12 weeks of training and three supervised sessions per week. The moderate-intensity group was trained continuously for 47 min at 60-70% of maximal heart rate. High-intensity interval training consisted of four interval bouts of 4 min at 85%-95% of maximal heart rate with 3 min breaks at 50%-60% of maximal heart rate between the intervals. For all analyses, statistical significance was assigned at P < 0.05. RESULTS: According to our findings, while carotid intima-media thickness decreased in both training groups, this reduction was not statistically significant. In the high-intensity training group, the right ankle-brachial index increased significantly (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Twelve weeks of exercise training, especially in high-intensity interval training, have led to improving lipid profiles and endothelial function, it can be said that regular and prolonged exercise can probably be a preventive factor in cardiovascular disease in overweight women.

Synergism Effects of Ursolic Acid Supplementation on the Levels of Irisin, C-reactive Protein, IL-6, and TNF-α During High-intensity Resistance Training in Low Activity Men.

BACKGROUND: Ursolic Acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid which is extracted from plants. UA may enhance the effect of Resistance Training (RT) in human. OBJECTIVE: Current research was designed to show the effect of High-Intensity Resistance Training (HIRT) in the presence or absence of UA on the serum levels of irisin, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α in the low activity men. METHODS: The study included twenty-two healthy male HIRT with placebo, supplementation, and HIRT in the presence of UA supplementation. The two groups received eight-week intervention including 2 sets of 8 exercises, with 8~10 repetitions at 70~75% of 1 repetition maximum and a 2 min rest interval between sets, performed 3 times/week. Placebo or UA orally was evaluated as 1 capsule 3 times/day during 8 weeks. The subsequent factors were measured post- and preintervention: C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Irisin, Tumor Necrotic Factor (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). RESULTS: UA supplementation significantly increased the plasma levels of irisin in the HIRT+UA group versus the HIRT+P group (p<0.05). UA treatment also dramatically decreased the plasma levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in the HIRT+UA group versus the HIRT+P group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The current data showed that UA-induced an increase in serum irisin and reduction of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α may have beneficial effects as a chemical for increasing of the effects of HIRT in low activity men.

The effects of aerobic training before and after the induction of Alzheimer's disease on ABCA1 and APOE mRNA expression and the level of soluble Aß1-42 in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic training before and after the induction of Alzheimer's disease on ABCA1 and APOE mRNA expression and the level of soluble Aß1-42 in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety six eight-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: Training (n=48) and Rest (n=48). After four weeks, each group was randomly divided into two subgroups: intra-hippocampal injection of Aß1-42 (n=24) and DMSO (n=24). Then, each group was again randomly divided into two groups: Training (n=12) and Rest (n=12). After four weeks, each group was again randomly divided into two groups: Behavioral test (n=7) and sacrificed (n=5). RESULTS: The one-way ANOVA showed a significant increase in the mRNA expression of ABCA1 (P<0.05), a significant decrease in the level of soluble Aß1-42, and no significant difference in the expression of APOE mRNA (P>0.05) in the hippocampus as a result of training. The analysis of the Morris water maze data showed that intra-hippocampal injection of Aß1-42 impaired spatial learning and memory and exercise improved spatial learning (P<0.05) and memory (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Therefore, aerobic training by a significant increase in the mRNA expression of ABCA1, which is the main factors of lipid metabolism in the brain and which is involved in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, can be consistent with improving cognitive function as an effective way of preventing and improving the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.