Different eccentric-based power training volumes improve glycemic, lipidemic profile and body composition of females in a dose-dependent manner: Associations with muscle fibres composition adaptations

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different volumes of fast eccentric-based training on body composition and lipidemic–glycemic profiles in females, as well as to explore the relationship between the change in glycemic–lipidemic profiles and the change in muscle fibre composition. Twenty-nine young females were assigned into three groups and performed 10 weeks (2 training sessions per week) of either 3 (LV), 6 (MV) or 9 (HV) sets/session of four fast velocity eccentric-only half-squats against 70% of concentric 1RM, followed by 3 maximum countermovement jumps (CMJ) after each set. Body composition, vastus lateralis fibre-type composition, and resting blood lipidemic and glycemic indices were evaluated 1 week before and after the training intervention. Significant changes in body composition, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR and blood lipids were found after training with MV and HV (p < 0.05; η2: 0.135–0.390). Significant correlations were found between muscle fibres’ percentage cross-sectional areas (%CSA) and resting glycemic–lipid values (r:−0.543to 0.730, p < 0.05). Training-induced changes of glycemic-lipid profiles were highly correlated to those of type IIa and IIx %CSAs (r: −0.895 to 0.898, p < 0.05). Partial Correlations revealed a significant impact of the imposed training volumes on these correlations. These results suggest that six but mostly nine sets per training session of the imposed training stimuli are needed for beneficial changes in resting glycemic–lipidemic profiles, changes which are related to the training-induced changes in muscle fibre composition. However, these relationships are dictated by the imposed training volumes.

Highlights

• Power training induces beneficial changes in body composition, glycemic and lipidemic profiles.

• Greater training volumes are needed for the healthier changes in glycemic–lipidemic profiles.

• Higher Type I, IIA and lower IIX percentage cross-sectional areas are linked with healthier body composition and glycemic-lipidemic profiles.

• Individuals experiencing the greatest increase in Type IIa and decrease in Type IIX muscle fibres cross-sectional areas after power training are those with the greatest beneficial changes in body composition, glycemic and lipidemic profiles.

KEYWORDS:

• Resistance training
• eccentric training
• insulin sensitivity
• blood lipids
• body fat

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the participants for their efforts and consistency throughout the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data Available after a reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

Part of the study was funded by the Postgraduate Program of “Applied Nutrition and Dietetics” of Harokopio University.