Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine the physiological effects of an high-intensity circuit training (HICT) on several cardiovascular disease risk factors in healthy, overweight middle-aged subjects, and to compare the effects of HICT to traditional endurance training (ET) and low-intensity circuit training (LICT).MethodsFifty-eight participants (ages 61±3.3 yrs, BMI 29.8±0.9) were randomly assigned to one of the three exercise treatment groups: HICT, LICT and ET. The three groups exercised three times per week, 50 min per session for 12 weeks. Baseline and after intervention anthropometric characteristics: body weight (BW), fat mass (FM); blood pressure: diastolic (DBP) and systolic (SBP), blood parameters; CHOL-t (total cholesterol), LDL-C (low density lipoprotein-cholesterol), HDL-C (high density lipoprotein-cholesterol), TG (triglycerides), ApoB and ratio ApoB/ApoA1 were measured.ResultsCompared to other groups, HICT showed significantly higher reductions in FM, DBP, CHOLt, LDL-C, TG, ApoB and significantly greater increases in high density HDL-C. LICT resulted in the greatest reduction in SBP. All groups showed a significant improvement of BW without any significant differences between groups.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that high-intensity circuit training is more effective in improving blood pressure, lipoproteins and triglycerides than endurance training alone or lower intensity circuit training.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to determine the physiological effects of an high-intensity circuit training (HICT) on several cardiovascular disease risk factors in healthy, overweight middle-aged subjects, and to compare the effects of HICT to traditional endurance training (ET) and low-intensity circuit training (LICT)
Whether its benefits lie in the fact that it helps to control weight, improve the body’s ability to use insulin, condition the heart muscle, increase levels of protective HDL cholesterol, moderate stress, lower blood pressure, or a combination of these effects, is not clear
HICT and LICT groups included subjects, while ET consisted of individuals
Summary
The aim of this study was to determine the physiological effects of an high-intensity circuit training (HICT) on several cardiovascular disease risk factors in healthy, overweight middle-aged subjects, and to compare the effects of HICT to traditional endurance training (ET) and low-intensity circuit training (LICT). Regular exercise is known to have a positive effect on many cardiovascular disease risk factors [1]. It is generally accepted that regular exercise can lower cardiovascular risk and it should be encouraged variables, and it more effectively modifies cardiovascular disease risk factors associated with the development of coronary artery disease [13]. On the other hand regular resistance training offers the greatest potential for developing muscular strength, endurance, and mass. It assists in the maintenance of basal metabolic rate (to complement aerobic training for weight control) [8]. The mechanisms for improvement may be different, both endurance and resistance training appear to have similar effects on bone mineral density, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity [14,15,16,17]
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