Whole body water after 16 weeks of high intensity interval training in Metabolic Syndrome patients.

Abstract

Introduction: Exercise is a cornerstone in the treatment of metabolic syndrome (MSyn). However exercise implies acute whole body water losses (i.e. sweating) which, if not properly recovered lead to chronic hypohydration. Objective: To determine if a high intensity interval training (HIIT) program with “ad libitum” hydration strategy during exercise sessions is able to reduce fat maintaining euhydration in MSyn patients. Method: Forty-two MSyn patients (15 women and 27 men; 54.0±7.9 years old) participated in a 16-week training program based on 3 sessions per week of HIIT performed in a cycle-ergometer (i.e., 5 x4-min at 90% of the maximal heart rate (HRmax), interspersed with 5x3-min at 70% of HRmax). During exercise sessions participants were allowed to drink water “ad libitum”. Body weight (BW), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and whole body water (WBW) were measured before and after intervention using electrical bioimpedance analysis (Tanita TBF 300, Japan). Results: After training participants loss 1.0±3.1 kg of BW (P=0.045) without changes in FM and LM (-0.2±3.2 kg; P=0.690, and -0.8±4.5 kg; P=0.264, respectively). WBW losses represented a 60% of the BW lost during training (0.6±3.5 kg; P=0.286). FM changes were inversely correlated with WBW changes (r=-0.747, P<0.001). Conclusion: Hydration status was maintained after training, however participants did not reduce FM. Maintenance of WBW could enhance exercise-related FM reductions.