Aerobic interval training versus continuous moderate exercise as a treatment for the metabolic syndrome: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with the metabolic syndrome are 3 times more likely to die of heart disease than healthy counterparts. Exercise training reduces several of the symptoms of the syndrome, but the exercise intensity that yields the maximal beneficial adaptations is in dispute. We compared moderate and high exercise intensity with regard to variables associated with cardiovascular function and prognosis in patients with the metabolic syndrome.


RESULTS
Thirty-two metabolic syndrome patients (age, 52.3+/-3.7 years; maximal oxygen uptake [o(2)max], 34 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) were randomized to equal volumes of either moderate continuous moderate exercise (CME; 70% of highest measured heart rate [Hfmax]) or aerobic interval training (AIT; 90% of Hfmax) 3 times a week for 16 weeks or to a control group. o(2)max increased more after AIT than CME (35% versus 16%; P<0.01) and was associated with removal of more risk factors that constitute the metabolic syndrome (number of factors: AIT, 5.9 before versus 4.0 after; P<0.01; CME, 5.7 before versus 5.0 after; group difference, P<0.05). AIT was superior to CME in enhancing endothelial function (9% versus 5%; P<0.001), insulin signaling in fat and skeletal muscle, skeletal muscle biogenesis, and excitation-contraction coupling and in reducing blood glucose and lipogenesis in adipose tissue. The 2 exercise programs were equally effective at lowering mean arterial blood pressure and reducing body weight (-2.3 and -3.6 kg in AIT and CME, respectively) and fat.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise intensity was an important factor for improving aerobic capacity and reversing the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. These findings may have important implications for exercise training in rehabilitation programs and future studies.
Tjønna
Arnt Erik
AE
Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Lee
Sang Jun
SJ
Rognmo
Øivind
Ø
Stølen
Tomas O
TO
Bye
Anja
A
Haram
Per Magnus
PM
Loennechen
Jan Pål
JP
Al-Share
Qusai Y
QY
Skogvoll
Eirik
E
Slørdahl
Stig A
SA
Kemi
Ole J
OJ
Najjar
Sonia M
SM
Wisløff
Ulrik
U
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008660:Metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010865:Pilot Projects