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The effects of three types of exercise training on steroid hormones in physically inactive middle-aged adults: a randomized controlled trial

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Physical inactivity and ageing are associated with imbalances in anabolic/catabolic steroid hormones, jeopardizing health. We investigated the effects of three types of training on plasma steroid hormone levels in physically inactive, middle-aged adults.

Methods

A 12-week randomized controlled trial was performed with a parallel-group design. A total of 67 (36 women) middle-aged adults (45–65 years old) were randomly assigned to (1) no exercise (control), (2) concurrent training based on the international physical activity recommendations (PAR), (3) high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or (4) HIIT plus whole-body electromyostimulation (HIIT + EMS). The training volume in the PAR group was 150 min/week at 60–65% of the heart rate reserve for aerobic training and ~ 60 min/week at 40–50% of the one-repetition maximum for resistance training. The training volume in the HIIT and HIIT + EMS groups was 40–65 min/week at > 95% of the maximum oxygen uptake in long interval sessions, and > 120% of the maximum oxygen uptake in short interval sessions.

Results

Compared to the control group, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate increased in the PAR, HIIT, and HIIT + EMS groups (~ 14%, ~ 14%, and ~ 20%, respectively; all P < 0.01). Cortisol decreased in the PAR, HIIT, and HIIT + EMS groups (~ − 17%, ~ − 10%, and ~ − 23%, respectively; all P ≤ 0.05). Testosterone increased in the HIIT and HIIT + EMS groups (~ 28%, and ~ 16%, respectively; all P ≤ 0.01). Free testosterone increased in the HIIT and HIIT + EMS groups (~ 30% and ~ 18% respectively; all P ≤ 0.01). No significant increase in sex hormone-binding globulin was observed (P = 0.869).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that HIIT, with or without whole-body EMS, can significantly enhance steroid hormones status in previously physically inactive middle-aged adults. The PAR program led to slight improvements than the HIIT and HIIT + EMS groups despite the application of a higher training volume.

Clinical trial registry

NCT03334357 (ClinicalTrials.gov). November 7, 2017 retrospectively registered.

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Availability of data and materials

Supplementary materials are available.

Abbreviations

ACTH:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ANCOVA:

Analysis of covariance

BMI:

Body mass index

BOCF:

Baseline observation carried forward

CERT:

Consensus on exercise reporting template

CIs:

Confidence intervals

CONSORT:

Consolidated standards of reporting trials

DHEAS:

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

ESM:

Electronic supplementary material

HIIT:

High-intensity interval training

HIIT + EMS:

High-intensity interval training plus whole-body electromyostimulation

iMUDS:

Instituto Mixto Universitario Deporte y Salud

LH:

Luteinizing hormone

LIP:

Long interval protocol

LMI:

Lean mass index

PAR:

International physical activity recommendations

SHBG:

Sex hormone-binding globulin

SIP:

Short interval protocol

η2:

Partial eta squared

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Universities (FPU14/04172, FPU15/03960 and FPU18/03357). This study was partially supported by the University of Granada—Plan Propio de Investigación 2016 Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES), Plan Propio de Investigación 2018-Beca de iniciación a la investigación para estudiantes de másteres oficiales, and Plan Propio de Investigación 2019-Programa Contratos-Puente, by the Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y Universidad, by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), ref. SOMM17/6107/UGR, and by Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa RETIC grant Red SAMID RD16/0022. We are grateful to Adrian Burton and Ana Yara Postigo Fuentes for language and editing assistance.

Funding

This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Universities (FPU14/04172, FPU15/03960 and FPU18/03357). This study was partially supported by the University of Granada—Plan Propio de Investigación 2016 Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES), Plan Propio de Investigación 2018-Beca de iniciación a la investigación para estudiantes de másteres oficiales, and Plan Propio de Investigación 2019-Programa Contratos-Puente, by the Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y Universidad, by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), ref. SOMM17/6107/UGR, and by Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa RETIC grant Red SAMID RD16/0022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PROmoting FITness and Health Through Physical Activity Research Group (PROFITH), Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Camino de Alfacar s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Manuel Dote-Montero, Lucas Jurado-Fasoli, Jonatan R. Ruiz & Francisco J. Amaro-Gahete

  2. EFFECTS-262 Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. de la Investigación 11, 18016, Granada, Spain

    Alejandro De-la-O, Manuel J. Castillo & Francisco J. Amaro-Gahete

Authors
  1. Manuel Dote-Montero
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  2. Alejandro De-la-O
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  3. Lucas Jurado-Fasoli
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  4. Jonatan R. Ruiz
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  5. Manuel J. Castillo
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  6. Francisco J. Amaro-Gahete
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Contributions

FAG, AOP, and MCG conceived and designed the study; FAG, AOP, and LJF designed and performed the tests and ran the training intervention; MDM and FAG performed the statistical analysis; MDM drafted the manuscript, and FAG, JRR, and MCG revised it. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manuel Dote-Montero.

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Consent to participate

All subjects provided oral and written informed consent to be included as participants.

Ethical approval

The protocol followed in this work was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Junta de Andalucía [0838-N-2017], and adheres to the latest revision of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Communicated by Fabio fischetti .

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Dote-Montero, M., De-la-O, A., Jurado-Fasoli, L. et al. The effects of three types of exercise training on steroid hormones in physically inactive middle-aged adults: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 2193–2206 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04692-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04692-7

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