Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young women
Abstract Regular aerobic exercise has a significant impact on glucose metabolism and lipid profiles, contributing to overall health improvement. However, evidence for optimal exercise duration to achieve these effects is limited. This study aims to explore the effects of 4 and 8 weeks of moderate-in...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86306-2 |
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| author | Maha Sellami Shamma Almuraikhy Khaled Naja Najeha Anwardeen Hadaia Saleh Al-Amri Mohammad Shoaib Prince Amina Ali Aden Alexander Doemling Mohamed A. Elrayess |
| author_facet | Maha Sellami Shamma Almuraikhy Khaled Naja Najeha Anwardeen Hadaia Saleh Al-Amri Mohammad Shoaib Prince Amina Ali Aden Alexander Doemling Mohamed A. Elrayess |
| author_sort | Maha Sellami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Regular aerobic exercise has a significant impact on glucose metabolism and lipid profiles, contributing to overall health improvement. However, evidence for optimal exercise duration to achieve these effects is limited. This study aims to explore the effects of 4 and 8 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on glucose metabolism, lipid profiles, and associated metabolic changes in young female students with insulin resistance and varying body mass, seeking to determine the optimal duration for physiological adaptations. Twenty-eight physically semi-active female students were randomly assigned to 4-week (G4, n = 13, age = 23.31 ± 5.19, BMI = 24.78 ± 5.87) and 8-week (G8, n = 15, age = 21.8 ± 2.56, BMI = 24.95 ± 4.81) training groups. The aerobic intervention maintained an intensity of 40–70% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). 6-min-walk test (6MWT), handgrip strength tests, insulin, HOMA-IR, lipid profiles, and metabolic profiles were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Following the intervention, G8, but not G4, exhibited a significant decrease in HOMA-IR (-14.59%, p = 0.047). The improvement in HOMA-IR was accompanied by notable improvements in 6-MWT (+ 38.18%, p < 0.001) and handgrip strength (+ 11.62, p = 0.027 and + 17.59%, p = 0.013), and increased levels of bilirubin degradation products, ribose, and glutarate. The elevated levels of bilirubin degradation products, known for their antioxidant properties, suggested a potential antioxidative response triggered by prolonged aerobic exercise. Additionally, an increase in ribose and glutarate indicated improved metabolic flexibility and enhanced utilization of alternative energy substrates. The 8-week aerobic exercise regimen demonstrated enhanced insulin sensitivity, upper body strength, and cardiovascular performance in young females compared to a 4-week regimen by triggering specific metabolic adaptations. These findings emphasize the complex relationship between exercise duration, metabolic adaptations, and overall well-being in young women, providing valuable insights for optimizing exercise prescriptions in promoting metabolic health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bedb8d2ae4164010828196b20b9b4217 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-bedb8d2ae4164010828196b20b9b42172025-01-19T12:22:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-86306-2Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young womenMaha Sellami0Shamma Almuraikhy1Khaled Naja2Najeha Anwardeen3Hadaia Saleh Al-Amri4Mohammad Shoaib Prince5Amina Ali Aden6Alexander Doemling7Mohamed A. Elrayess8College of Sport Sciences, Sport Coaching Department, Qatar UniversityBiomedical Research Center, Qatar UniversityBiomedical Research Center, Qatar UniversityBiomedical Research Center, Qatar UniversityCollege of Sport Sciences, Sport Coaching Department, Qatar UniversityWellness and Health Promotion, Department of Sport and Wellness, University of Doha for Science and TechnologyHamad Medical Corporation (HMC)Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Groningen UniversityBiomedical Research Center, Qatar UniversityAbstract Regular aerobic exercise has a significant impact on glucose metabolism and lipid profiles, contributing to overall health improvement. However, evidence for optimal exercise duration to achieve these effects is limited. This study aims to explore the effects of 4 and 8 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on glucose metabolism, lipid profiles, and associated metabolic changes in young female students with insulin resistance and varying body mass, seeking to determine the optimal duration for physiological adaptations. Twenty-eight physically semi-active female students were randomly assigned to 4-week (G4, n = 13, age = 23.31 ± 5.19, BMI = 24.78 ± 5.87) and 8-week (G8, n = 15, age = 21.8 ± 2.56, BMI = 24.95 ± 4.81) training groups. The aerobic intervention maintained an intensity of 40–70% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). 6-min-walk test (6MWT), handgrip strength tests, insulin, HOMA-IR, lipid profiles, and metabolic profiles were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Following the intervention, G8, but not G4, exhibited a significant decrease in HOMA-IR (-14.59%, p = 0.047). The improvement in HOMA-IR was accompanied by notable improvements in 6-MWT (+ 38.18%, p < 0.001) and handgrip strength (+ 11.62, p = 0.027 and + 17.59%, p = 0.013), and increased levels of bilirubin degradation products, ribose, and glutarate. The elevated levels of bilirubin degradation products, known for their antioxidant properties, suggested a potential antioxidative response triggered by prolonged aerobic exercise. Additionally, an increase in ribose and glutarate indicated improved metabolic flexibility and enhanced utilization of alternative energy substrates. The 8-week aerobic exercise regimen demonstrated enhanced insulin sensitivity, upper body strength, and cardiovascular performance in young females compared to a 4-week regimen by triggering specific metabolic adaptations. These findings emphasize the complex relationship between exercise duration, metabolic adaptations, and overall well-being in young women, providing valuable insights for optimizing exercise prescriptions in promoting metabolic health.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86306-2Physical activityInsulin sensitivityMetabolomicsBilirubin degradation productsGlutarateRibose |
| spellingShingle | Maha Sellami Shamma Almuraikhy Khaled Naja Najeha Anwardeen Hadaia Saleh Al-Amri Mohammad Shoaib Prince Amina Ali Aden Alexander Doemling Mohamed A. Elrayess Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young women Scientific Reports Physical activity Insulin sensitivity Metabolomics Bilirubin degradation products Glutarate Ribose |
| title | Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young women |
| title_full | Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young women |
| title_fullStr | Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young women |
| title_short | Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young women |
| title_sort | eight weeks of aerobic exercise but not four improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young women |
| topic | Physical activity Insulin sensitivity Metabolomics Bilirubin degradation products Glutarate Ribose |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86306-2 |
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