Effects of Circuit Training Program on Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Vascular Inflammatory Markers, and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 in Elderly Obese Women with Sarcopenia

Abstract

Background: Sarcopenic obesity is caused by a decrease in muscle mass and an increase in body fat due to aging, and has been the cause of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and arteriosclerosis and high inflammatory conditions. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of long-term exercise training as regards to the body composition and blood-related physiological indicators. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influences the effect of circuit exercise training for 12 weeks on cardiovascular risk factors, vascular inflammatory markers, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in elderly obesity women with sarcopenia. Methods: A total of 28 elderly obese Korean women with sarcopenia (75.0 ± 5.1 years) were randomly assigned either to a control group (CG, n = 14) or an exercise group (EG, n = 14). The EG performed circuit exercise training for 25–75 minutes (gradually incremental) three times per week over a period of 12 weeks, while the CG maintained their usual daily lifestyle during the intervention period. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations were performed on selected cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory markers, and IGF-1. Results: The EG group exhibited improved body composition (i.e., body mass index, fat-free mass, % fat mass, waist-to-hip ratio; all p < 0.030, η2 > 0.169), Cardiovascular risks factor (i.e., heart rate, systolic blood pressure, rate pressure product, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio, triglyceride/HDL-C ratio, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/HDL-C ratio, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, fasting plasma insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance; all p < 0.042, η2 > 0.150), Inflammatory markers (i.e., high sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6; all p < 0.045, η2 > 0.146), and IGF-1 (p = 0.037, η2 = 0.157). Conversely, there were no significant changes observed in CG. Conclusions: Twelve weeks of circuit training had a positive effect on the improvement in cardiovascular risk factors, vascular inflammatory markers, and IGF-1 in elderly obese women with sarcopenia.