Fitness Is Independently Associated with Central Hemodynamics in Metabolic Syndrome

Exercise Training Intensity and the Fitness-Fatness Index in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Trial

Background

Cardiorespiratory fitness and fatness (notably central obesity) are mediating factors of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and consequent cardiovascular disease (CVD)/mortality risk. The fitness-fatness index (FFI) combines these factors and has been reported to be a better indicator of CVD and all-cause mortality risk, beyond the capacity of either fitness or fatness alone.

Objective

This study sought to investigate the effects of different exercise intensities on FFI in adults with MetS.

Methods

This was a sub-study of the ‘Exercise in the prevention of Metabolic Syndrome’ (EX-MET) multicentre trial. Ninety-nine adults diagnosed with MetS according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria were randomized to one of the following 16-week exercise interventions: i) moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) at 60–70% HRpeak for 30 min/session (n = 34, 150 min/week); ii) 4 × 4 min bouts of high-intensity interval training at 85–95% HRpeak, interspersed with 3-min active recovery at 50–70% HRpeak (n = 34, 38 min/session, 114 min/week); and iii) 1 × 4 min bout of HIIT at 85–95% HRpeak (n = 31, 17 min/session, 51 min/week). Cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen uptake, V̇O2peak) was determined via indirect calorimetry during maximal exercise testing and fatness was the ratio of waist circumference-to-height (WtHR). FFI was calculated as V̇O2peak in metabolic equivalents (METs) divided by WtHR. A clinically meaningful response to the exercise intervention was taken as a 1 FFI unit increase.

Results

Seventy-seven participants completed pre and post testing to determine FFI. While there was no significant between group difference (p = 0.30), there was a small group x time interaction effect on FFI [F(2, 73) = 1.226; η2 = 0.01], with numerically greater improvements following HIIT (4HIIT, + 16%; 1HIIT, + 11%) relative to MICT (+ 7%). There was a greater proportion of participants who had a clinically meaningful change in FFI following high-volume HIIT (60%, 15/25) and low-volume HIIT (65%, 17/26) compared to MICT (38%, 10/26), but with no significant between-group difference (p = 0.12). A similar trend was found when a sub-analysis comparing the FFI between those with type 2 diabetes (MICT, 33%, 3/9; high-volume HIIT, 64%, 7/11; and low-volume HIIT, 58%, 7/12) and without type 2 diabetes (MICT, 41%, 7/17; high-volume HIIT, 57%, 8/14; low-volume HIIT, 71%, 10/14).

Conclusion

Although there were no statistically significant differences detected between groups, this study suggests that the response to changes in FFI in adults with MetS may be affected by exercise intensity, when numerical differences between exercise groups are considered. Further research is warranted.

Trial registration number and date of registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01676870; 31/08/2012.

Reservoir-Excess Pressure Parameters Independently Predict Cardiovascular Events in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes

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Effect of Different Volumes of Interval Training and Continuous Exercise on Interleukin-22 in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Trial

INTRODUCTION

IL-22 may have a role in the alleviation of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) via protection of pancreatic beta and endothelial cells from oxidative and lipid-induced damage. We aimed to investigate the effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and different volumes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on changes in circulating IL-22.

METHODS

This was a sub-study of the "Exercise in the prevention of Metabolic Syndrome" (EX-MET) a multi-center, randomized trial. This study used data collected at the Brisbane site. Thirty-nine individuals with MetS were randomized to one of three 16-wk interventions: 1) MICT (n=10, 30min at 60-70% HR peak, 5x/wk); 2) 4HIIT (n=13, 4x4min at 85-95% HR peak, interspersed with 3min of active recovery at 50-70% HR peak, 3x/wk); or 3) 1HIIT (n=16, 1x4min at 85-95% HR peak, 3x/wk). Serum IL-22 concentration was measured following a 12-hr fast via an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, before and after the intervention. MetS severity, insulin resistance (IR), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were also measured via MetS z-score, HOMA-IR, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and indirect calorimetry (maximal exercise test), respectively.

RESULTS

The median (IQR) IL-22% changes from pre- to post-intervention in the MICT, 4HIIT, and 1HIIT groups were -17% (-43.0% to 31.3%), +16.5% (-18.9% to 154.9%), and +15.9% (-28.7% to 46.1%), respectively. Although there were no significant between-group differences in IL-22 concentration change, there was a medium-to-large group × time interaction effect [F(2,35)=2.08, p=0.14, η²=0.14].

CONCLUSION

Although there was no statistically significant between-group difference in IL-22 change, the study suggests that different exercise intensities may have opposing effects on IL-22 concentration in individuals with MetS.

Effects of exercise intensity and cardiorespiratory fitness on the acute response of arterial stiffness to exercise in older adults

PURPOSE

Increased arterial stiffness is observed with ageing and in individuals with low cardiorespiratory fitness ([Formula: see text]O_2peak), and associated with cardiovascular risk. Following an exercise bout, transient arterial stiffness reductions offer short-term benefit, but may depend on exercise intensity. This study assessed the effects of exercise intensity on post-exercise arterial stiffness in older adults with varying fitness levels.

METHODS

Fifty-one older adults (72 ± 5 years) were stratified into fitness tertiles ([Formula: see text]O_2peak: low-, 22.3 ± 3.1; mid-, 27.5 ± 2.4 and high-fit 36.3 ± 6.5 mL kg^-1 min^-1). In a randomised order, participants underwent control (no-exercise), moderate-intensity continuous exercise (40% of peak power output; PPO), and higher-intensity interval exercise (70% of PPO) protocols. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx75) and reflection magnitude (RM) were assessed at rest and during 90 min of recovery following each protocol.

RESULTS

After control, delta PWV increased over time (P < 0.001) and delta RM was unchanged. After higher-intensity interval exercise, delta PWV (P < 0.001) and delta RM (P < 0.001) were lower to control in all fitness groups. After moderate-intensity continuous exercise, delta PWV was not different from control in low-fit adults (P = 0.057), but was lower in the mid- and higher-fit older adults. Post-exercise AIx75 was higher to control in all fitness groups (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In older adults, PWV increases during seated rest and this response is attenuated after higher-intensity interval exercise, regardless of fitness level. This attenuation was also observed after moderate-intensity continuous exercise in adults with higher, but not lower fitness levels. Submaximal exercise reveals differences in the arterial stiffness responses between older adults with higher and lower cardiorespiratory fitness.

Effects of acute exercise on endothelial function in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm

Endothelial dysfunction is observed in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), who have increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. This study aimed to assess the acute effects of moderate- and higher-intensity exercise on endothelial function, as assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), in AAA patients (74 ± 6 yr old, n = 22) and healthy adults (72 ± 5 yr old, n = 22). Participants undertook three randomized visits, including moderate-intensity continuous exercise [40% peak power output (PPO)], higher-intensity interval exercise (70% PPO), and a no-exercise control. Brachial artery FMD was assessed at baseline and at 10 and 60 min after each condition. Baseline FMD was lower [by 1.10% (95% confidence interval: 0.72-.81), P = 0.044] in AAA patients than in healthy adults. There were no group differences in FMD responses after each condition ( P = 0.397). FMD did not change after no-exercise control but increased by 1.21% (95% confidence interval: 0.69-1.73, P < 0.001) 10 min after moderate-intensity continuous exercise in both groups and returned to baseline after 60 min. Conversely, FMD decreased by 0.93% (95% confidence interval: 0.41-1.44, P < 0.001) 10 min after higher-intensity interval exercise in both groups and remained decreased after 60 min. We found that the acute response of endothelial function to exercise is intensity-dependent and similar between AAA patients and healthy adults. Our findings provide evidence that regular exercise may improve vascular function in AAA patients, as it does in healthy adults. Improved FMD after moderate-intensity exercise may provide short-term benefit. Whether the decrease in FMD after higher-intensity exercise represents an additional risk and/or a greater stimulus for vascular adaptation remains to be elucidated. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Abdominal aortic aneurysm patients have vascular dysfunction. We observed a short-term increase in vascular function after moderate-intensity exercise. Conversely, higher-intensity exercise induced a prolonged reduction in vascular function, which may be associated with both short-term increases in cardiovascular risk and signaling for longer-term vascular adaptation in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients.

High-intensity interval training and cardiac autonomic control in individuals with metabolic syndrome: A randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance has been postulated to play a central role in the co-appearance of various cardiovascular disease risk factors constituting the metabolic syndrome (MetS). There is evidence that altered cardiac autonomic function (CAF) may precede the onset of insulin resistance. Exercise training has been shown to improve CAF in different populations, yet little is known regarding the exercise dose response for CAF. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different volumes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on CAF in participants with MetS.

METHODS

Individuals with MetS (n=56) were randomised into the following 16-week training interventions: i) MICT (n=16, 30min at 60-70%HRpeak, 5×/week); ii) 4HIIT (n=19, 4×4min bouts at 85-95%HRpeak, interspersed with 3min of active recovery at 50-70%HRpeak, 3×/week); or iii) 1HIIT (n=21, 1×4min bout at 85-95%HRpeak, 3×/week). R-R interval recorded for 5min in a supine position at pre- and post-intervention was used to derive linear (SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, LF, HF, LF/HF) and non-linear (SD1, SD2, Alpha1, Alpha2, SampEn) heart rate variability (HRV) indices as measures of CAF. Group×time interaction effects were examined (ANCOVA) and Eta squared (η²) interaction effect sizes calculated.

RESULTS

While there were no significant between-group differences in CAF indices, there were small-to-medium group×time interaction effects on SDNN [F(2,52)=0.70, p=0.50, η²=0.02], RMSSD [F(2,52)=1.35, p=0.27, η²=0.03], HF power [F(2,52)=1.27, p=0.29, η²=0.03], SD1 [F(2,52)=0.47, p=0.63, η²=0.01], and SD2 [F(2,52)=0.41, p=0.67, η²=0.01]. The following represent the relative percentage increases across these variables for 4HIIT, MICT, and 1HIIT respectively (SDNN, +30%, +17%, 9%; RMSSD, +30%, +22%, -2%; HF power, +69%, +18%, +7%; SD1, +30%, +22%,-2%; SD2, +22%, +14%, 4%).

CONCLUSIONS

There were no significant between-group differences for the effects of exercise dose on CAF indices, however; high-volume HIIT demonstrated the greatest magnitude of effect for improving CAF in individuals with MetS.

Adults with initial metabolic syndrome have altered muscle deoxygenation during incremental exercise

OBJECTIVE

Reduced aerobic power is independently associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) incidence and prevalence in adults. This study investigated whether muscle deoxygenation (proxy of microvascular O₂ extraction) during incremental exercise is altered in MetS and associated with reduced oxygen consumption ( V˙O_2peak ).

METHODS

Twelve men with initial MetS (no overt diseases and medication-naive; mean ± SD, age 38 ± 7 years) and 12 healthy controls (HCs) (34 ± 7 years) completed an incremental cycling test to exhaustion, in which pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange (metabolic analyzer), as well as vastus lateralis deoxygenation (near infrared spectroscopy), were measured.

RESULTS

Subjects with MetS, in contrast to HCs, showed lower V˙O_2peak normalized to total lean mass, similar V˙O₂ response to exercise, and earlier break point (BP) in muscle deoxygenation. Consequently, deoxygenation slope from BP to peak exercise was greater. Furthermore, absolute V˙O_2peak was positively associated with BP in correlations adjusted for total lean mass.

CONCLUSIONS

MetS, without overt diseases, altered kinetics of muscle deoxygenation during incremental exercise, particularly at high-intensity exercise. Therefore, the balance between utilization and delivery of O₂ within skeletal muscle is impaired early in MetS natural history, which may contribute to the reduction in aerobic power.

Dispositional self-control: relationships with aerobic capacity and morning surge in blood pressure

The psychological, behavioral and psychosocial implications of self-control are well established, but relatively little is known about its implications for physical health. This study examined the association between self-control and two important indicators of cardiovascular risk: morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) and maximum oxygen consumption (VO_2max). Undergraduate students (N = 78) completed a measure of dispositional self-control (Brief Self-Control Scale), participated in a 24-h ambulatory assessment of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP), and completed the YMCA Cycle Ergometer Submaximal Test. Regression analyzes yielded a significant positive relationship between self-control and VO_2max. Results also indicated a significant negative association between self-control and MBPS, independent of average 24-h blood pressure and VO_2max scores. These findings expand our understanding of the relationship between dispositional self-control and MBPS. Study limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

The effect of different volumes of high-intensity interval training on proinsulin in participants with the metabolic syndrome: a randomised trial

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The continuous demand for insulin in the face of insulin resistance, coupled with the glucolipotoxic environment associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS), adversely affects the quality of insulin produced and secreted by the pancreatic beta cells. This is depicted by increased circulating intact proinsulin concentration, which is associated with increased MetS severity and risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to reduce insulin resistance and other CV disease risk factors to a greater degree than moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). We therefore aimed to investigate the impact of MICT and different volumes of HIIT on circulating intact proinsulin concentration.

METHODS

This was a substudy of the 'Exercise in prevention of Metabolic Syndrome' (EX-MET) multicentre trial. Sixty-six individuals with MetS were randomised to 16 weeks of: (1) MICT (n = 21, 30 min at 60-70% peak heart rate [HRpeak], five times/week); (2) 4HIIT (n = 22, 4 × 4 min bouts at 85-95% HRpeak, interspersed with 3 min of active recovery at 50-70% HRpeak, three times/week); or (3) 1HIIT (n = 23, 1 × 4 min bout at 85-95% HRpeak, three times/week). A subanalysis investigated the differential impact of these training programmes on intact proinsulin concentration in MetS individuals with type 2 diabetes (MICT, n = 6; 4HIIT, n = 9; 1HIIT, n = 12) and without type 2 diabetes (MICT, n = 15; 4HIIT, n = 13; 1HIIT, n = 11). Intact proinsulin, insulin and C-peptide concentrations were measured in duplicate via ELISA, following a 12 h fast, before and after the exercise programme. Fasting intact proinsulin concentration was also expressed relative to insulin and C-peptide concentrations.

RESULTS

Following the exercise training, there were no significant (p > 0.05) changes in fasting intact proinsulin concentration indices in all participants (pre- vs post-programme proinsulin, proinsulin:insulin, proinsulin:C-peptide: MICT 19% decrease, 6% increase, 4% increase; 4HIIT 19% decrease, 8% decrease, 11% decrease; 1HIIT 34% increase, 49% increase, 36% increase). In participants who did not have type 2 diabetes, only 4HIIT significantly (p < 0.05) reduced fasting intact proinsulin concentration indices from pre to post intervention (pre- vs post-programme proinsulin, proinsulin:insulin, proinsulin:C-peptide: 4HIIT 32% decrease, 26% decrease, 32% decrease, p < 0.05; 1HIIT, 14% increase, 32% increase, 16% increase, p > 0.05; MICT 27% decrease, 17% decrease, 11% decrease), with a group × time interaction effect, indicating a greater reduction in intact proinsulin indices following 4HIIT compared with MICT and 1HIIT. There were no significant (p > 0.05) changes in intact proinsulin concentration indices in participants with type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Higher-volume HIIT (4HIIT) improved insulin quality in MetS participants without type 2 diabetes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01676870 FUNDING: The study was funded by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and from an unrestricted research grant from the Coca-Cola company. Funding for the collection of physical activity data was derived from a 'UQ New Staff Start Up' grant awarded to B. Clark.