The Effect of Sprint Interval Training on Body Composition of Postmenopausal Women.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 31210647 · doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000001919
What was done
Forty overweight postmenopausal women were randomized to an 8-week sprint interval training (SIT) group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 20). The SIT protocol consisted of three 20-minute sessions per week, alternating 8-second sprints with 12 seconds of light pedaling. Total mass, regional lean mass, and fat mass were assessed with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and VO2max was predicted using a submaximal exercise test.
What was found
In the SIT group, total lean mass significantly increased from pretest (48.1 ± 5.81 kg) to posttest (48.8 ± 5.96 kg), with gains in the trunk (24.4 ± 2.79 to 24.8 ± 2.93 kg) and legs (15.6 ± 2.31 to 15.9 ± 2.34 kg). Fat mass significantly decreased from 29.5 ± 7.29 kg to 29.1 ± 7.61 kg. Predicted VO2max significantly increased in the SIT group only, from 21.7 ± 4.89 to 24.4 ± 5.96 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹. Numerical data for the control group were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study shows that brief, time-efficient sprint interval training can modestly improve lean mass, fat mass, and aerobic fitness in postmenopausal women with very low cumulative exercise time.
Limits
The sample size is small (n = 40). VO2max was predicted from a submaximal test rather than directly measured with gas analysis, and the abstract omits quantitative data for the control group and long-term follow-up.
Cited by
- supports An 8-week sprinting protocol in women with an average age of 58 increased their VO2 max by 10%.