Effect of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Serum Levels of Brain-DerivedNeurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-1) in ActiveMen

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a member of neurotrophin family that mediates various acts including neural survival, neurogenesis, axons outgrowth and neuronal plasticity. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is known as the interface between the hormonal system and the nervous system, which is essential for exercise induced neurogenesis of the hippocampus, as well as the recovery of brain function. Thus aim ofpresent study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on serum levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-1) in active men. For this purpose 18 active men were randomly assigned to two experimental (n=10) and control (n=8) groups. The experimental group HIIT training with high intensity 90 percent of maximal heart rate for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week carried out. Serum levels of BDNF and IGF-1 12 hours before the first session and 48 hours after the last sesson of HIIT protocol were measured by ELISA kit. To analyze the data, Independent T test and paired T test and Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationship between variables in P<0.05 as significant level.The results of this study showed that 8 weeks of training (HIIT) has no significant effect on the plasma level of BDNF in active men(P= 0.101).While 8 weeks of HIIT have significant effect on the plasma level of IGF-1 in active men(P=0/031). There is a significant relationship between serum levels of BDNF and IGF-1 (P= 0/019, r=0/391). This results indicates the positive effects of HIIT on the level of IGF-1 and possibly with an increase in the duration of the training period, the positive effects of these training on BDNF levels will be evident.

Keywords:

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor(BDNF) , Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) , active men