Effects of High Intensity Interval Training and Strength Training on Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Hormonal Outcomes in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 26406234 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0138793
What was done
Three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial evaluating 31 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (mean age 27.2 ± 5.5 years, body mass index 26.7 ± 6.0 kg/m2). Participants were randomly assigned to high-intensity interval training, strength training, or an inactive control group. Both exercise groups trained three times weekly for 10 weeks. The primary outcome was change in homeostatic assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Secondary outcomes included lipid profiles, flow-mediated dilatation, body composition, anti-Müllerian hormone, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, adiponectin, and leptin.
What was found
HOMA-IR improved significantly only following high-intensity interval training, decreasing by -0.83 (95% CI, -1.45 to -0.20, a 17% reduction) with a significant between-group difference (p = 0.014). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased after interval training by 0.2 (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.5) mmol/L (between-group p = 0.04). Flow-mediated dilatation increased after interval training by 2.0 (95% CI, 0.1 to 4.0) % (between-group p = 0.08). Fat percentage decreased significantly after both exercise interventions without changes in body weight. Strength training significantly reduced anti-Müllerian hormone by -14.8 (95% CI, -21.2 to -8.4) pmol/L (between-group p = 0.04). No significant changes were observed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, adiponectin, or leptin in any group.
Why it matters
This study indicates that high-intensity interval training can improve insulin resistance, lipid profiles, and body composition in women with polycystic ovary syndrome without requiring body weight reduction.
Limits
The sample size was very small (31 participants divided across three study arms), which increases the risk of imprecision. The intervention duration was short (10 weeks), and clinical reproductive outcomes such as ovulation frequency or pregnancy rates were not assessed.
Cited by
- supports Research from Norway shows that high-intensity interval training provides specific health benefits for individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).