Impact of high-intensity interval training on Mir-۲۱ and Mir-۱۲۲ expression and metabolic parameters in middle-aged men with metabolic syndrome

Background: Metabolic syndrome, a problem of the present age, is a combination of several medical issues, and miRNAs play important regulatory roles in metabolic syndrome. Many studies indicate that high-intensity interval training (HITT) may improve risk factors for metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ۸ weeks of HIIT training on the changes in miR-۲۱, miR-۱۲۲, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), lipid profile, and glucose. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, middle-aged male (n=۱۹) volunteers with metabolic syndrome (body mass index (BMI)>۳۰) were randomly assigned to the control (n=۹) and training (n=۱۰) groups. The training program consisted of ۸ weeks of HIIT training with ۴ sets of workouts with an intensity of ۸۰-۹۰% heart rate for the training group (۳ sessions per week during the first ۴ weeks and ۴ sessions per week during the second ۴ weeks). Blood samples were collected from the subjects ۴۸ hours before and after the last training session to analyze miR-۲۱, miR-۱۲۲, ALT, AST, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, cholesterol, and glucose. The within-group and between-group differences of data were analyzed using the paired t-tests and analysis of covariance at a significance level of P˂۰.۰۵ in SPSS software. Results: This study indicated that HIIT caused a significant decrease in miR-۱۲۲, ALT, AST, triglyceride, cholesterol, glucose, body weight indicators, fat percentage, and BMI (P˂۰.۰۵). Also, a significant increase in miR-۲۱ and HDL levels was observed following HIIT training (P˂۰.۰۵). Conclusion: HIIT training seems essential in metabolic changes, such as reducing the lipid profile, decreasing glucose, and improving liver damage by affecting miR-۲۱ and miR-۱۲۲ indicators as small regulatory transcripts. However, more extensive studies are needed in this field.

Keywords:

High-intensity interval training , MIRN۲۱ microRNA , human , MIRN۱۲۲ microRNA , human , Metabolic syndrome