The effects of interval training on peripheral brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Alberto Jiménez-Maldonado,Patricia Concepción García-Suárez,Eric P Plaisance,Iván Rentería,José Moncada-Jiménez

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88496-x

Alberto Jiménez-Maldonado, Patricia Concepción García-Suárez + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88496-x

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Abstract

The aim of the current meta-analysis was to determine the effects of acute and chronic interval training (IT) on serum and plasma BDNF concentrations in healthy young adults. A literature search was performed using six databases until February 2020. The TESTEX scale was used to assess the quality of studies. Effect sizes (ES) were computed and two-tailed α values < 0.05 and non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were considered statistically significant. Heterogeneity, inconsistency (I2), and small-study effects using the Luis Furuya–Kanamori (LFK) index were examined. Fifteen studies (n = 277 participants, age = 24 ± 3 years) were included. The overall effects of IT on circulating BDNF concentrations were moderate and significant (ES = 0.62, 95% CI 0.00, 1.24, heterogeneous (p < 0.001), highly inconsistent (I2 = 90%), and with major asymmetry (LFK index = 2.76). The acute effect of IT on peripheral BDNF levels was large and significant (ES = 1.10, 95% CI 0.07, 2.14), heterogeneous (p < 0.001), highly inconsistent (I2 = 92%), and with major asymmetry (LFK index = 3.34). The chronic effect of IT on circulating BDNF was large and significant (ES = 0.93, 95% CI 0.40, 1.46), heterogeneous (p < 0.001), with moderate inconsistency (I2 = 70%), and minor asymmetry (LFK index = 1.21). Acute and chronic IT elicited a moderate increase in serum and plasma BDNF concentrations in a healthy young population.

Highlights

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was discovered in the early 1 980s1 and belongs to the neurotrophin family of proteins[2]
18 studies met the criteria for inclusion, and three studies were excluded
Twenty-two effect size (ES) were computed from 15 studies representing 277 participants meeting the criteria for inclusion (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was discovered in the early 1 980s1 and belongs to the neurotrophin family of proteins[2]. Reports indicate that this neurotrophin can cross the blood–brain barrier[15] and that peripheral circulating BDNF concentrations are associated with brain function[16,17,18]. Experimental studies, narrative reviews, and meta-analysis have indicated that aerobic exercise (moderate-intensity continuous training-MICT) increases circulating BDNF concentrations and improves brain function[25,26,27]. Interval training (IT) modalities can be performed in a fraction of the time as MICT and have been shown to produce similar improvements in peripheral metabolism compared to MICT31–33. The latter effect is dependent on the population studied. We assess the differences of changes in circulating BDNF between serum and plasma after IT

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