High Intensity Interval- vs Moderate Intensity- Training for Improving Cardiometabolic Health in Overweight or Obese Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose

To compare the effects of six weeks of high intensity interval training (HIIT) vs continuous moderate intensity training (MIT) for improving body composition, insulin sensitivity (S_I), blood pressure, blood lipids, and cardiovascular fitness in a cohort of sedentary overweight or obese young men. We hypothesized that HIIT would result in similar improvements in body composition, cardiovascular fitness, blood lipids, and S_I as compared to the MIT group, despite requiring only one hour of activity per week compared to five hours per week for the MIT group.

Methods

28 sedentary overweight or obese men (age, 20 ± 1.5 years, body mass index 29.5 ± 3.3 kg/m²) participated in a six week exercise treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to HIIT or MIT and evaluated at baseline and post-training. DXA was used to assess body composition, graded treadmill exercise test to measure cardiovascular fitness, oral glucose tolerance to measure S_I, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess lipoprotein particles, and automatic auscultation to measure blood pressure.

Results

A greater improvement in VO_2peak was observed in MIT compared to HIIT (11.1% vs 2.83%, P = 0.0185) in the complete-case analysis. No differences were seen in the intention to treat analysis, and no other group differences were observed. Both exercise conditions were associated with temporal improvements in % body fat, total cholesterol, medium VLDL, medium HDL, triglycerides, S_I, and VO_2peak (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Participation in HIIT or MIT exercise training displayed: 1) improved S_I, 2) reduced blood lipids, 3) decreased % body fat, and 4) improved cardiovascular fitness. While both exercise groups led to similar improvements for most cardiometabolic risk factors assessed, MIT led to a greater improvement in overall cardiovascular fitness. Overall, these observations suggest that a relatively short duration of either HIIT or MIT training may improve cardiometabolic risk factors in previously sedentary overweight or obese young men, with no clear advantage between these two specific regimes (Clinical Trial Registry number NCT01935323).

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01935323     

Longitudinal analysis of physical function in older adults: The effects of physical inactivity and exercise training

Lack of exercise contributes to systemic inflammation and is a major cause of chronic disease. The long-term impact of initiating and sustaining exercise in late life, as opposed to sustaining a sedentary lifestyle, on whole-body health measures such as physical performance is not well known. This is an exploratory study to compare changes in physical performance among older adults initiating exercise late in life versus inactive older adults. Data from two observational cohorts were included in this analysis, representing two activity groups. The Active group cohort comprises older adults (n = 318; age 72.5 ± 7.2 years) enrolled in a supervised exercise program, “Gerofit.” The inactive group comprises older adults (n = 146; age 74.5 ± 5.5 years) from the Italian study “Act on Ageing” (AOA) who self-reported being inactive. Participants in both groups completed physical performance battery at baseline and 1-year including: 6-min walk test, 30-s chair stand, and timed up-and-go. Two-sample t-tests measured differences between Gerofit and AOA at baseline and 1-year across all measures. Significant between-group effects were seen for all performance measures (ps = 0.001). The AOA group declined across all measures from baseline to 1 year (range −18% to −24% change). The Gerofit group experienced significant gains in function for all measures (range +10% to +31% change). Older adults who initiated routine, sustained exercise were protected from age-related declines in physical performance, while those who remained sedentary suffered cumulative deficits across strength, aerobic endurance, and mobility. Interventions to reduce sedentary behaviors and increase physical activity are both important to promote multi-system, whole-body health.     

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Induces Specific Changes in Respiration and Electron Leakage in the Mitochondria of Different Rat Skeletal Muscles

High intensity interval training (HIIT) is characterized by vigorous exercise with short rest intervals. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) plays a key role in muscle adaptation. This study aimed to evaluate whether HIIT promotes similar H₂O₂ formation via O₂ consumption (electron leakage) in three skeletal muscles with different twitch characteristics. Rats were assigned to two groups: sedentary (n=10) and HIIT (n=10, swimming training). We collected the tibialis anterior (TA-fast), gastrocnemius (GAST-fast/slow) and soleus (SOL-slow) muscles. The fibers were analyzed for mitochondrial respiration, H₂O₂ production and citrate synthase (CS) activity. A multi-substrate (glycerol phosphate (G3P), pyruvate, malate, glutamate and succinate) approach was used to analyze the mitochondria in permeabilized fibers. Compared to the control group, oxygen flow coupled to ATP synthesis, complex I and complex II was higher in the TA of the HIIT group by 1.5-, 3.0- and 2.7-fold, respectively. In contrast, oxygen consumed by mitochondrial glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPdH) was 30% lower. Surprisingly, the oxygen flow coupled to ATP synthesis was 42% lower after HIIT in the SOL. Moreover, oxygen flow coupled to ATP synthesis and complex II was higher by 1.4- and 2.7-fold in the GAST of the HIIT group. After HIIT, CS activity increased 1.3-fold in the TA, and H₂O₂ production was 1.3-fold higher in the TA at sites containing mGPdH. No significant differences in H₂O₂ production were detected in the SOL. Surprisingly, HIIT increased H₂O₂ production in the GAST via complex II, phosphorylation, oligomycin and antimycin by 1.6-, 1.8-, 2.2-, and 2.2-fold, respectively. Electron leakage was 3.3-fold higher in the TA with G3P and 1.8-fold higher in the GAST with multiple substrates. Unexpectedly, the HIIT protocol induced different respiration and electron leakage responses in different types of muscle.     

耐力运动对增龄大鼠脑皮层突触可塑性的影响及相关调控机制*

目的:探讨规律性耐力运动对脑皮层增龄性老化适应性的作用与机制。方法:将三个不同年龄段的健康SPF级雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠分为3月龄 (青年,n=20)、13月龄 (中年,n=24)和23月龄 (老年,n=24)组,每组又随机分为静息组和运动组;静息组三组静息,运动组三组实施10周递增负荷规律的中等强度耐力运动:运动方式为跑台运动(坡度0),运动强度从最大摄氧量(V·O2max) 60%～65%逐渐递增到70%～75%,运动时间为10周;取大鼠脑皮层,HE染色测试大鼠脑皮层增龄性形态学变化,检测BDNF和SOD的蛋白表达及突触素-1(SYN1)和CaMK IIα/AMPKα1/ mTOR通路等相关基因。结果:静息各组大鼠的脑皮层结构呈现年龄增龄性衰老变化,脑皮层SOD表达呈增龄性下降趋势,BDNF表达变化呈增龄性上升趋势,SYN1和CaMK IIα表达水平随增龄性趋势变化不大,AMPKα1和SirT2以及 IP3R、AKT1、mTOR mRNA表达水平随年龄变化呈现中年略上升而老年下降趋势;与静息各组大鼠相比,运动各组大鼠脑皮层神经细胞核排列紧密有序,显微镜下观察细胞核的数量明显增加,运动促进大鼠脑皮层SOD、BDNF和突触素SYN1表达水平增加,其中老年大鼠SOD、BDNF表达水平显著上调(P＜0.01),青年和老年大鼠SYN1表达水平显著上调(P＜0.05),运动上调中年和老年大鼠脑皮层CaMK IIα表达水平上调(P＜0.01),而对青年大鼠CaMK IIα表达水平却是下调(P＜0.01),运动可上调青年大鼠脑皮层的AMPKα1表达水平(P＜0.05),而对中年和老年大鼠AMPKα1的影响不显著,运动均可上调各年龄大鼠脑皮层的SirT2表达水平(P＜0.05),运动上调各年龄大鼠脑皮层的IP3R/AKT1/ mTOR表达水平,其中青年IP3R显著上调(P＜0.01),青年和中年mTOR显著上调(P＜0.01),老年mTOR也显著上调(P＜0.05)。结论:耐力运动通过上调BDNF的表达水平,调控CaMK IIα信号、激活AMPK信号通路和IP3R/AKT1/mTOR信号通路,改善脑皮层的突触可塑性。     

Physical Activity Patterns of People Affected by Depressive and Anxiety Disorders as Measured by Accelerometers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Exercise can relieve both depressive and anxiety disorders and it is therefore of importance to establish movement patterns of mildly to moderately affected sufferers to estimate the treatment potential. The aim is to describe the physical activity patterns of people affected by mild to moderate depressive and/or anxiety symptoms using objective measures of physical activity.

Methods

The design of the study was cross-sectional using data from 165 people aged 18–65 years, with mild to moderate depressive and/or anxiety disorder symptoms (scoring ≥10 on the PHQ-9). Diagnoses were made using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and symptom severity was measured with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The participants wore accelerometers for a week to evaluate physical activity patterns.

Results

No statistically significant differences were detected between different diagnoses, though depressed participants tended to be less active and more sedentary. Only one-fifth of the sample followed public health guidelines regarding physical activity. Each one point increase in MADRS was associated with a 2.4 minute reduction in light physical activity, independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time. MADRS was positively associated with number of sedentary bouts.

Conclusions

The physical activity pattern of people with depressive and/or anxiety disorders was characterized by large amounts of sedentary time and low fulfillment of physical activity guidelines. There is therefore a large treatment potential for this group by increasing exercise. The results suggest that instead of focusing exclusively on high intensity exercise for treating depressive and anxiety disorders, health care providers might encourage patients to reduce sedentary time by increasing light physical activity and decreasing the number of sedentary bouts, though further studies are needed that can determine directionality.     

Efectividad del entrenamiento interválico de alta intensidad en la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria de personas mayores de 65 años,una revisión sistemática

The objective of this review was to analyze the effect of HIIT on cardiorespiratory fitness, health-related quality of life (HRQL) and safety of its execution in people over 65 years of age.A systematic search was carried out, following the PRISMA recommendations, in 11 electronic databases, evaluating the resolution of the HIIT, affecting cardiorespiratory capacity as the main result and secondarily HRQL and safety of its execution, assessing the risk of bias using Rob 2.0 and ROBINS-I.Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, consisting of people >65 years, HIIT intervention >4 weeks, and studies assessing cardiorespiratory fitness.It can be concluded that HIIT improves cardiorespiratory capacity in people over 65 years of age, with respect to HRQL and the safety of its execution, the results are not conclusive. It becomes essential to unify criteria in intervention protocols, requiring further research in this regard.     

Habitual Sleep Measures are Associated with Overall Body Fat,and not Specifically with Visceral Fat,in Men and Women

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the associations of sleep duration and sleep quality with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in middle‐aged individuals.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional analysis of baseline measurements of the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study, participants underwent anthropometry and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for assessing short sleep duration (as sex‐specific age‐adjusted percentiles) and poor quality (PSQI > 5). VAT was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in a random subgroup. We performed linear regression analyses to examine associations of short sleep and poor sleep with measures of body fat, adjusted for confounding, including total body fat in models with VAT.

Results

A total of 5,094 participants (52% women; mean age of 56 [SD 6] years), 1,947 of whom had VAT measurements, were analyzed. The difference in VAT between poor sleep (PSQI > 5) and good sleep (PSQI ≤ 5) was 7.2cm² (95% CI: 1.2‐13.8) in women and 16.1cm² (95% CI: 6.2‐26.0) in men. These differences attenuated toward the null after the adjustment for total body fat. Similar patterns of associations were observed for short sleep (lowest 10% compared with median 60%).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that measures of sleep are not specifically associated with a higher amount of VAT.     

uHIIT显著改善男性减脂效果

本研究旨在探讨以心率控制方式进行12周的上坡高强度间歇训练(uphill high-intensityinterval training,uHIIT)和中等水平强度持续训练(moderate-intensity continuous training, MCT)对于中年过重肥胖男性的身体组成(体脂肪百分比和净体重)、代谢症候指标(安静血压,血糖,高低密度脂蛋白胆固醇,总胆固醇和甘油三脂)及心肺耐力指标(最大摄氧量,无氧阈值和力竭时间)的影响。本研究通过对25位中年过重肥胖男性(BMI>24)训练前后的身体组成与代谢症候指标进行检测,并进行渐增强度测验,以评估心肺耐力指标。前测后,受试者随机分配至uHIIT组(心率控制强度为90%HRmax,运动2 min休息1 min共7次进行约20 min)、MCT组(心率控制强度为65%～70%HR_max,运动约40 min)与控制组。进行每周3次为期12周的训练后,再接受相同的测试1次。研究显示,相较于控制组,uHIIT组与MCT组的最大摄氧量(V4O_2max)、无氧阈值、力竭时间、臀部脂肪皆显著改善,且uHIIT组在V4O_2max增加量上显著高于MCT组,仅有uHIIT组的血压、体脂肪百分比和腿部脂肪显著改善。本研究表明,uHIIT与MCT皆可改善中年肥胖男性心肺耐力,同时uHIIT对于减脂与血压的改善较为显著,但其余代谢指标受到运动的影响较小,减脂效果上uHIIT的运动效益优于MCT,建议运动时应重视运动强度。     

The effect of abdominal exercise on abdominal fat

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of abdominal exercises on abdominal fat. Twenty-four healthy, sedentary participants (14 men and 10 women), between 18 and 40 years, were randomly assigned to 1 of the following 2 groups: control group (CG) or abdominal exercise group (AG). Anthropometrics, body composition, and abdominal muscular endurance were tested before and after training. The AG performed 7 abdominal exercises, for 2 sets of 10 repetitions, on 5 d·wk(-1) for 6 weeks. The CG received no intervention, and all participants maintained an isocaloric diet throughout the study. Significance was set at p = 0.05 for all tests. There was no significant effect of abdominal exercises on body weight, body fat percentage, android fat percentage, android fat, abdominal circumference, abdominal skinfold and suprailiac skinfold measurements. The AG performed significantly greater amount of curl-up repetitions (47 ± 13) compared to the CG (32 ± 9) on the posttest. Six weeks of abdominal exercise training alone was not sufficient to reduce abdominal subcutaneous fat and other measures of body composition. Nevertheless, abdominal exercise training significantly improved muscular endurance to a greater extent than the CG.     

Physical exercise, body mass index, subcutaneous adiposity and body composition among Bengalee boys aged 10-17 years of Kolkata, India

A comparative study of 215 sedentary (no regular physical exercise undertaken) and 313 physically active (regular physical exercise undertaken) Bengalee boys aged 10-17 years was undertaken to investigate the differences in overall adiposity (body mass index), subcutaneous adiposity (skinfolds) and body composition (percent body fat, fat mass and fat mass index). Both groups had a similar age. The results revealed that boys who did not undertake regular physical exercise (NPE) had a significantly greater mean body mass index (BMI) compared with those who undertook regular physical exercise (PE); p < 0.001. The means for all the skinfolds as well as percent body fat (PBF), fat mass (FM) and fat mass index (FMI) were significantly higher among the NPE group. The percentile distributions of all these variables and indices were consistently higher among the NPE group. The results of ANOVA of physical exercise (PE = yes, NPE = no) and PBF, FM and FMI, with age as covariate, revealed that PE had a significant negative effect on all these measures of body composition even after controlling for the impact of age. The means in each case were greater among the NPE group. In conclusion, this study provided evidence that Bengalee boys, who undertook regular physical exercise, had significantly less adiposity compared with those who did not undertake regular physical exercise.     

Lower skeletal muscle capillarization and VEGF expression in aged vs. young men.

Recently, we observed that muscle capillarization, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein, and the VEGF mRNA response to acute exercise were lower in aged compared with young women (Croley AN, Zwetsloot KA, Westerkamp LM, Ryan NA, Pendergast aged men, Hickner RC, Pofahl WE, and Gavin TP. J Appl Physiol 99: 1875-1882, 2005). We hypothesized that similar age-related differences in muscle capillarization and VEGF expression would exist between young and aged men. Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis before and at 4 h after a submaximal exercise bout for the measurement of morphometry, capillarization, VEGF, KDR, and Flt-1 in seven aged (mean age 65 yr) and eight young (mean age 21 yr) sedentary men. In aged compared with young men, muscle capillary contacts and capillary-to-fiber perimeter exchange index were lower regardless of fiber type. Muscle VEGF mRNA and protein were lower in aged men both at rest and 4 h postexercise. Exercise increased muscle VEGF mRNA and protein and KDR mRNA independent of age group. There were no effects of exercise or age on muscle Flt-1 mRNA or protein or KDR protein. These results confirm that skeletal muscle capillarization and VEGF expression are lower in aged compared with young men.     

Effect of high-intensity interval training on cardiovascular function, VO2max, and muscular force

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of short-term high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiovascular function, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular force. Active, young (age and body fat = 25.3 ± 4.5 years and 14.3 ± 6.4%) men and women (N = 20) of a similar age, physical activity, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) completed 6 sessions of HIIT consisting of repeated Wingate tests over a 2- to 3-week period. Subjects completed 4 Wingate tests on days 1 and 2, 5 on days 3 and 4, and 6 on days 5 and 6. A control group of 9 men and women (age and body fat = 22.8 ± 2.8 years and 15.2 ± 6.9%) completed all testing but did not perform HIIT. Changes in resting blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), VO2max, body composition, oxygen (O2) pulse, peak, mean, and minimum power output, fatigue index, and voluntary force production of the knee flexors and extensors were examined pretraining and posttraining. Results showed significant (p < 0.05) improvements in VO2max, O2 pulse, and Wingate-derived power output with HIIT. The magnitude of improvement in VO2max was related to baseline VO2max (r = -0.44, p = 0.05) and fatigue index (r = 0.50, p < 0.05). No change (p > 0.05) in resting BP, HR, or force production was revealed. Data show that HIIT significantly enhanced VO2max and O2 pulse and power output in active men and women.     

Influence of the interleukin-6 -174 G/C gene polymorphism on exercise training-induced changes in glucose tolerance indexes.

A polymorphism in the IL-6 gene, a G-to-C substitution 176 bp upstream of the ATG translation initiation site, has been associated with diabetes prevalence and insulin resistance. Interventions including exercise training are frequently used to modify cardiovascular disease risk factors. Consequently, this project examined associations between the IL-6 -174 genotype and oral glucose tolerance test outcomes in 50- to 75-yr-old sedentary men and postmenopausal women before and after aerobic exercise training. Among the 87 individuals who started the study, 56 were retested after 6 mo of aerobic exercise training. Subject characteristics at baseline did not differ between the IL-6 genotype groups with the exception of fasting glucose, which was higher (P = 0.02, covariates age, gender, and ethnicity) in the CC genotype group. The training-induced change in glucose area under the curve during the oral glucose tolerance test varied between the IL-6 -174 genotype groups (P = 0.05, covariates age, gender, ethnicity, baseline glucose area under the curve, and percent body fat change) with a significant decrease occurring only in the GG genotype group. Insulin outcomes did not differ among the groups at baseline or after training. Training-induced changes in weight, percent body fat, maximal oxygen consumption, fasting glucose, and an insulin sensitivity index also changed similarly among the genotype groups. In conclusion, fasting glucose and the extent to which glucose tolerance changes with exercise training may be influenced by the IL-6 -174 gene polymorphism.     

Exercise training improves aging-induced downregulation of VEGF angiogenic signaling cascade in hearts

Exercise training improves aging-induced deterioration of angiogenesis in the heart. However, the mechanisms underlying exercise-induced improvement of capillary density in the aged heart are unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is implicated in angiogenesis, which activated angiogenic signaling cascade through Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-related pathway. We hypothesized that VEGF angiogenic signaling cascade in the heart contributes to a molecular mechanism of exercise training-induced improvement of capillary density in old age. With the use of hearts of sedentary young rats (4 mo old), sedentary aged rats (23 mo old), and exercise-trained aged rats (23 mo old, swim training for 8 wk), the present study investigated whether VEGF and VEGF-related angiogenic molecular expression in the aged heart is affected by exercise training. Total capillary density in the heart was significantly lower in the sedentary aged rats compared with the sedentary young rats, whereas that in the exercise-trained rat was significantly higher than the sedentary aged rats. The mRNA and protein expressions of VEGF and of fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) and fetal liver kinase-1 (Flk-1), which are main VEGF receptors, in the heart were significantly lower in the sedentary aged rats compared with the sedentary young rats, whereas those in the exercise-trained rats were significantly higher than those in the sedentary aged rats. The phosphorylation of Akt protein and eNOS protein in the heart corresponded to the changes in the VEGF protein levels. These findings suggest that exercise training improves aging-induced downregulation of cardiac VEGF angiogenic signaling cascade, thereby contributing to the exercise training-induced improvement of angiogenesis in old age.     

Regular aerobic exercise and the age-related increase in carotid artery intima-media thickness in healthy men.

Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), an independent risk factor for stroke, increases with age. Habitual exercise is associated with a lower prevalence of stroke, but it is unclear whether this protective effect could be mediated through a favorable influence on carotid IMT. We examined this possibility using both cross-sectional and intervention approaches. First, 137 healthy men (age 18-77 yr) who were either sedentary or endurance trained were studied. In both groups, carotid IMT and IMT-to-lumen ratio were progressively higher with age (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in measures of carotid IMT between sedentary and endurance-trained men at any age. Carotid systolic blood pressure increased progressively with age and was related to carotid IMT (r = 0.63, P < 0.01). Second, 18 healthy sedentary subjects (54 +/- 2 yr) were studied before and after 3 mo of endurance training. Carotid IMT, IMT/lumen ratio, and carotid systolic blood pressure did not change with exercise intervention. Our results do not support the hypothesis that regular aerobic exercise exerts its protective effect against stroke by attenuating the age-related increase in carotid IMT. This lack of effect on carotid IMT may be due to the apparent inability of habitual exercise to prevent or reduce the age-associated elevation in carotid distending pressure.     

Lymphocyte enzymatic antioxidant responses to oxidative stress following high-intensity interval exercise

The purposes of this study were to 1) examine the immune and oxidative stress responses following high-intensity interval training (HIIT); 2) determine changes in antioxidant enzyme gene expression and enzyme activity in lymphocytes following HIIT; and 3) assess pre-HIIT, 3-h post-HIIT, and 24-h post-HIIT lymphocyte cell viability following hydrogen peroxide exposure in vitro. Eight recreationally active males completed three identical HIIT protocols. Blood samples were obtained at preexercise, immediately postexercise, 3 h postexercise, and 24 h postexercise. Total number of circulating leukocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils, as well as lymphocyte antioxidant enzyme activities, gene expression, cell viability (CV), and plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) levels, were measured. Analytes were compared using a three (day) × four (time) ANOVA with repeated measures on both day and time. The a priori significance level for all analyses was P < 0.05. Significant increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities were observed in lymphocytes following HIIT. No significant increases in lymphocyte SOD, CAT, or GPX gene expression were found. A significant increase in TBARS was found immediately post-HIIT on days 1 and 2. Lymphocyte CV in vitro significantly increased on days 2 and 3 compared with day 1. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in CV at 3 h compared with pre- and 24 h postexercise. These findings indicate lymphocytes respond to oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity. Additionally, HIIT causes oxidative stress but did not induce a significant postexercise lymphocytopenia. Analyses in vitro suggest that lymphocytes may become more resistant to subsequent episodes of oxidative stress. Furthermore, the analysis in vitro confirms that lymphocytes are more vulnerable to cytotoxic molecules during recovery from exercise.     

不同运动方式对肥胖大鼠肝脏脂质沉积及FGF21分泌的影响*

目的: 研究持续性运动训练(CT)与高强度间歇运动训练(HIIT)对正常和肥胖大鼠血清和肝脏FGF21蛋白含量及肝脏脂肪代谢的影响。方法: 雄性SD大鼠随机分为两组:普通饲料及45%高脂饲料喂养,8周后以普通饲料喂养,大鼠体重增加20%为肥胖造模成功标准。将正常大鼠随机分为正常安静组(LC)、正常高强度间歇运动训练组(LHI)、正常持续性运动训练组(LCT),肥胖大鼠随机分为肥胖安静组(OC)、肥胖高强度间歇运动训练组(OHI)及肥胖持续性运动训练组(OCT),每组10只,运动干预组大鼠进行8周不同方式负重游泳运动训练干预,末次运动干预间隔24 h后取血液检测血清炎症因子、FGF21水平,取肝脏组织检测脂质含量、脂代谢酶含量及FGF21表达水平。结果: 与LC组比较,OC组大鼠体重、血清炎症因子、肝脏甘油三酯(TG)含量显著增高(P＜0.05),LHI组肝脏TG含量显著降低,LCT组肝脏FGF21表达水平显著增高(P＜0.05)。与OC组比较,OHI组大鼠肝脏TG含量显著降低(P＜0.05),线粒体CPT-1β、β-HAD酶含量显著升高(P＜0.05),OCT组大鼠肝脏LPL、FAT/CD36酶含量显著增高,血清、肝脏FGF21水平均显著上升(P＜0.05)。结论: 两种运动方式均能降低正常、肥胖大鼠体重及肥胖大鼠肝脏脂质沉积现象,其中HIIT上调线粒体脂肪氧化水平,显著降低正常、肥胖大鼠肝脏TG含量,而CT通过提高正常、肥胖大鼠肝脏FGF21蛋白表达及血清FGF21水平,促进肝脏摄取脂肪酸,对缓解肥胖大鼠肝脏脂质沉积效果有限。     

Physical exercise regulates p53 activity targeting SCO2 and increases mitochondrial COX biogenesis in cardiac muscle with age

The purpose of this study was to outline the timelines of mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and cytochrome c oxidase complex (COX) biogenesis in cardiac muscle with age, and to evaluate whether and how these age-related changes were attenuated by exercise. ICR/CD-1 mice were treated with pifithrin-μ (PFTμ), sacrificed and studied at different ages; ICR/CD-1 mice at younger or older ages were randomized to endurance treadmill running and sedentary conditions. The results showed that mRNA expression of p53 and its protein levels in mitochondria increased with age in cardiac muscle, accompanied by increased mitochondrial oxidative stress, reduced expression of COX subunits and assembly proteins, and decreased expression of most markers in mitochondrial biogenesis. Most of these age-related changes including p53 activity targeting cytochrome oxidase deficient homolog 2 (SCO2), p53 translocation to mitochondria and COX biogenesis were attenuated by exercise in older mice. PFTμ, an inhibitor blocking p53 translocation to mitochondria, increased COX biogenesis in older mice, but not in young mice. Our data suggest that physical exercise attenuates age-related changes in mitochondrial COX biogenesis and p53 activity targeting SCO2 and mitochondria, and thereby induces antisenescent and protective effects in cardiac muscle.     

Biological aortic age derived from the arterial pressure waveform

Indexes for arterial stiffness are, by their nature, influenced by the ambient blood pressure due to the curvilinear nature of arterial compliance. We developed a new concept of the "Modelflow aortic age," which is, theoretically, not influenced by the ambient blood pressure and provides an easily understood context (biological vs. chronological age) for measures of arterial stiffness. The purpose of the present study was to validate this pressure-independent index for aortic stiffness in humans. Twelve sedentary elderly (65-77 yr), 11 Masters athletes (65-73 yr), and 12 sedentary young individuals (20-42 yr) were studied. Modelflow aortic ages were comparable with chronological ages in both sedentary groups, indicating that healthy sedentary individuals have age-appropriate aortas. In contrast, Masters athletes showed younger Modelflow aortic ages than their chronological ages. The coefficient of variation of sedentary subjects was three times smaller with the Modelflow aortic age (21%) than with other indexes, such as static systemic arterial stiffness (61%), central pulse wave velocity (61%), or carotid β-stiffness index (58%). The typical error was very small and two times smaller in the Modelflow aortic age (<7%) than in static systemic arterial stiffness (>13%) during cardiac unloading by lower body negative pressure. The Modelflow aortic age can more precisely and reliably estimate aortic stiffening with aging and modifiers, such as life-long exercise training compared with the pressure-dependent index of static systemic arterial stiffness, and provides a physiologically relevant and clinically compelling context for such measurements.