Detraining-induced alterations in adipokines and cardiometabolic risk factors after nonlinear periodized resistance and aerobic interval training in obese men

This study compared the effects of nonlinear resistance training (NRT), aerobic interval training (AIT), and detraining on adipokines and cardiometabolic risk factors in middle-aged obese men. Thirty-three obese men were randomly allocated to NRT (n = 12), AIT (n = 10), and control (CON, n = 11) groups. Subjects in experimental groups performed exercise protocols 3 days per week for 12 weeks followed by a 4-week detraining period. The NRT involved 55 min of weight training with flexible periodization. The AIT consisted of running on a treadmill (4 x 4-min intervals at 90% of maximal heart rate, with each interval separated by 3 min at 65%). Peak oxygen consumption increased significantly after training compared with CON (P < 0.01), but it increased more in the AIT group than in the NRT group (P = 0.004). After detraining, peak oxygen consumption decreased significantly in both training groups (P < 0.001); however, the value in the AIT group was still higher than that in the CON group (P = 0.003). No significant changes were observed in serum levels of omentin-1 and interleukin (IL)-18 after training (P > 0.05), but omentin-1 decreased significantly in both training groups and IL-18 increased significantly in the NRT group after detraining (P < 0.05). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased significantly after training in the AIT group compared with the CON group (P < 0.05) and returned to the pre-training level after detraining. Conversely, apelin-13 increased significantly in response to training, compared with baseline (P < 0.05), and remained unchanged after detraining. Both training regimens had similar effects on most markers; however, AIT seems to have stronger anti-coronary disease effects (as indicated by HDL-C and peak oxygen consumption) than NRT.