Abstract
Introduction
There is growing evidence for a preventative effect of resistance training on cognitive decline through physiological mechanisms; yet, the effect of resistance training on resting growth factors and homocysteine levels is incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of intense resistance training, for 12 weeks, on changes in peripheral growth factors and homocysteine in late middle-aged adults.
Methods
45 healthy adults were enrolled into the single-site parallel groups’ randomized-controlled trial conducted at the Department of Exercise Science, Strength and Conditioning Laboratory, Murdoch University. Participants were allocated to the following conditions: (1) high-load resistance training (n = 14), or (2) moderate-load resistance training (n = 15) twice per week for 12 weeks; or (3) non-exercising control group (n = 16). Data were collected from September 2016 to December 2017. Fasted blood samples were collected at baseline and within 7 days of trial completion for the analysis of resting serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and plasma homocysteine levels.
Results
No differences in baseline to post-intervention change in serum growth factors or plasma homocysteine levels were observed between groups. A medium effect was calculated for BDNF change within the high-load condition alone (+ 12.9%, g = 0.54).
Conclusions
High-load or moderate-load resistance training twice per week for 12 weeks has no effect on peripheral growth factors or homocysteine in healthy late middle-aged adults.
Trial registration
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12616000690459.
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Abbreviations
- ANCOVA:
-
Analysis of covariance
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- APOE:
-
Apolipoprotein E
- BDNF:
-
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
- ELISA:
-
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- IGF-1:
-
Insulin-like growth factor 1
- IGFBP-3:
-
Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3
- IPAQ:
-
International Physical Activity Questionnaire
- MoCA:
-
Montreal Cognitive Assessment
- 1RM:
-
One-repetition maximum
- VEGF:
-
Vascular endothelial growth factor
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Acknowledgements
The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. No external funding was utilized to conduct this research.
Funding
BMB is supported by the NHMRC National Institute of Dementia Research (GNT1097105). SRRS is supported by a BrightFocus Foundation Fellowship. RNM is the Founder and owns stock in Alzhyme.
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KJM, BMB, SRRS, and JJP were involved in conception of the study. KJM and SYMT collected the data. KJM, SB, LW, and SML analyzed the data. All authors were involved in data interpretation, drafting of the manuscript, and approving the final version.
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All other authors declare no conflict of interest in the development and completion of this study.
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Participants were provided with written documentation of the possible risks and benefits related to their participation in this study and signed informed consent was obtained in writing.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Murdoch University Human Research Ethics Committee (#2016/052) and have, therefore, been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.
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Communicated by William J. Kraemer.
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Marston, K.J., Brown, B.M., Rainey-Smith, S.R. et al. Twelve weeks of resistance training does not influence peripheral levels of neurotrophic growth factors or homocysteine in healthy adults: a randomized-controlled trial. Eur J Appl Physiol 119, 2167–2176 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04202-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04202-w