Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of nonlinear resistance training (NRT) and aerobic interval training (AIT), and detraining on selected inflammatory markers in men who are middle aged and obese. Subjects first were matched by aerobic capacity, age, and percentage body fat and then randomly assigned to NRT (n = 12), AIT (n = 10) and, control (CON, n = 11) groups. The experimental groups performed 3 weekly sessions for 12 weeks followed by a 4-week detraining period. Nonlinear resistance training consisted of 40-65 minutes of weight training with flexible periodization. Aerobic interval training consisted of running on a treadmill (4 x 4 minutes at 80-90 maximal heart rate, with 3-minute recovery intervals). Compared with CON, serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) did not significantly change after training, but adiponectin (ADPN) increased significantly only with AIT (5.09 +/- 2.29 vs. 4.36 +/- 0.84 mg mu.ml(-1)). No significant changes in CRP and TNF-a occurred in both training groups after detraining, but ADPN (NRT: 3.6 +/- 1.2 and AIT: 3.4 +/- 1.7 vs. CON: 4.7 +/- 1.2 mg mu.ml(-1)) and IL-6 (NRT: 5.8 +/- 3.3 and AIT: 5.5 +/- 2.9 vs. CON: 2.3 +/- 1.2 pg mu.ml(-1)) worsened significantly. Both the AIT and NRT were equally effective at reducing soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (NRT: 187.2 +/- 117.5 and AIT: 215.2 +/- 142.4 vs. CON: 416.2 +/- 205.9 ng mu.ml(-1)) and insulin (NRT: 4.0 +/- 1.0 and AIT: 4.8 +/- 2.7 vs. CON: 7.4 +/- 3.0 mU mu.ml(-1)) levels, but these variables returned to the pretraining levels after detraining. The practical applications are that both the AIT and NRT and detraining had similar effects on most inflammatory markers in men who are obese, but the AIT seems to have better anti-inflammatory effects (as indicated by ADPN) compared with NRT.