Women with metabolic syndrome show similar health benefits from high-intensity interval training than men

High-intensity interval training (HIIT), is effective to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) components in adults. However, it is unclear if CRF and MetS components respond similarly in men and women after HIIT. For 16 weeks, 63 women (53±7 years) and 56 men (55±8 years) with MetS underwent a three day/week HIIT program. Bodyweight and composition, VO2MAX, surrogate parameters of CRF (Ventilatory threshold (VT), oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and VE/VCO2 slope), maximal rate of fat oxidation (MFO), and MetS components were assessed before and after training. All reported variables were analyzed by split-plot ANOVA looking for time by sex interactions. Before training men had higher absolute values of VO2MAX (58.6%), and MFO (24.6%), while lower body fat mass (10.5%) than women (all P2MAX remained 16.6% higher in men (P2MAX (P2 at VT (P0.05). After training MetS Z-score (P0.05). From the MetS components, only blood pressure (P2 at VT (r = 0.378, and r = 0.445, respectively), correlated with VO2MAX. While only bodyweight changes correlated with MetS Z-score changes (r = 0.372, and = 0.300, respectively). Despite baseline differences, 16-weeks of HIIT similarly improved MetS, cardiorespiratory and metabolic fitness in women and men with MetS. This suggests that there are no restrictions due to sex on the benefits derived from an intense exercise program in the health of MetS participants.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT03019796

高强度间歇训练（High-intensity interval training, HIIT）可有效改善成人的心肺适能（cardiorespiratory fitness, CRF）与代谢综合征（metabolic syndrome, MetS）相关指标。然而，目前尚不明确完成HIIT干预后，男性与女性在心肺适能及代谢综合征指标上的响应是否存在差异。本研究纳入63名女性（年龄53±7岁）与56名男性（年龄55±8岁）的代谢综合征患者，实施为期16周、每周3次的HIIT训练方案。分别于训练前后测定受试者的体重与身体成分、最大摄氧量（VO₂MAX）、心肺适能替代指标（通气阈值（Ventilatory threshold, VT）、摄氧效率斜率（oxygen uptake efficiency slope, OUES）及VE/VCO₂斜率）、最大脂肪氧化速率（maximal rate of fat oxidation, MFO）以及代谢综合征相关组分。
所有观测变量均采用裂区方差分析（split-plot ANOVA）进行分析，以考察时间与性别的交互效应。训练前，男性的最大摄氧量绝对数值（58.6%）与最大脂肪氧化速率（24.6%）均高于女性，而体脂肪质量较女性低10.5%（所有指标P<0.05）。训练后，男性的最大摄氧量仍较女性高16.6%（P<0.05）；通气阈值处的相关指标均得到显著改善（P<0.05）。训练后代谢综合征Z评分得到显著改善（P<0.05）。从代谢综合征相关组分来看，仅血压与最大摄氧量呈显著相关（通气阈值处r=0.378，VE/VCO₂斜率处r=0.445）；而仅体重变化与代谢综合征Z评分变化呈显著相关（男性r=0.372，女性r=0.300）。
尽管基线存在性别差异，但为期16周的HIIT训练可使男性与女性代谢综合征患者的代谢综合征、心肺适能与代谢健康获得同等程度的改善。这表明，针对代谢综合征患者，高强度运动计划带来的健康获益不受性别限制。
临床试验注册：clinicaltrials.gov NCT03019796