Table 3.
Studies of high intensity interval training and combination exercise interventions on hormones in women with PCOS.
| Study | Participants | Exercise Intervention | Hormonal Changes | Unchanged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prospective, intensified aerobic ex., case-control [115] Trial ISRCTN84763265 |
20 PCOS, 14 non-PCOS; 20–40 y, BMI > 27; NIH criteria | 12-week intensified aerobic ex; 3 h/wk; added 8-week HIIT on treadmill, mod. intensity: 70% VO2max or 75–85% HRmax, HIIT: 6x 5 min intervals 95–100% VO2max or HRmax, 2 min rest, up to 8 reps and rest down to 1 min by 8 wk; HRM | ↑GIR | PEDF |
| RCT w/3 parallel arms (HIIT, ST, no ex) [116] Trial NCT01919281 |
31 PCOS (~10/group); 27.2 ± 5.5 y; BMI 26.7 ± 6; Rotterdam criteria | 10-week HIIT or ST; 3 d/wk; HIIT: 2 d/wk of 4 × 4 min at 90–95% HRmax w/ 3 min mod. II at 70% HRmax, plus 1 d/wk 10× 1 min at max intensity w/1 min rest/low II; walking/running and/or cycling; at least 1 d/wk supervised; HRM; ST: 8 dynamic drills at 75% resistance of 1 RM, 3× 10 reps w/1 min rests | ↓FI, HOMA-IR (HIIT) ↓DHEA-S (HIIT) ↓FAI, AMH (ST) ↑SHBG (ST) |
T, APN, Leptin |
| Nonrandomized, HIIT or MICT [117] |
20 PCOS (10/group); mean age 25 y; BMI 21.2–41.6; Rotterdam criteria | 12-week HIIT or MICT program; 3 d/wk for 30 min; HIIT: 2 min run, 2 min walk; MICT: run at mod. tempo, constant speed | ↓FI (HIIT) ↑APN (HIIT) Trended in MICT |
Leptin, vaspin |
| RCT w/2 arms (aquatic HIIT+met, met) [118] | 30 PCOS (15/group); 20–35 y; BMI ≥ 30; Rotterdam criteria | 12-week aquatic HIIT; 3 d/wk for 30 min with 4 × 4min intervals, each with 8 rounds of 20 s max II w/10 s rest, and 1 min rest between each 4 min bout; HRM | ↓LH, ↑FSH ↑SHBG ↓fT, TT, FAI, DHEA-S ↓HOMA-IR |
N/A (hormones) |
| RCT w/2 arms (diet or diet+ex) [119] | 5 PCOS (diet), 7 PCOS (diet+ex); mean BMI 36.6; Rotterdam criteria | 12-week aerobic and resistance ex; 3 d/wk for 30 min at 70–85% HRmax plus 12 resistance ex of 2 × 10 reps progressing to 3 × 15 reps, increasing wt 5%; total of 90 min sessions; supervised | ↓FI (both groups) | LH:FSH T, FAI, SHBG |
| RCT w/3 parallel arms (diet, diet and aerobic ex., diet and aerobic-resistance ex) [120] | 94 PCOS (~30/group); 29.3 ± 0.7 y; BMI 36.1 ± 0.5; Rotterdam criteria |
20-week walking/jogging program 5 d/wk or walking/jogging 3 d/wk plus PRT 2 d/wk on nonconsecutive days; | ↓FI, HOMA-IR (both ex. groups, 10 wk; all at 20 wk) ↓T (both ex. groups, 10, 20 wk) ↓FAI (all at 10, 20 wk) ↑SHBG (both ex. groups, 10, 20 wk) |
N/A (hormones) |
| RCT w/3 arms (diet, ex, diet+ex) [121,122] Trial ISRCTN48342048 |
57 PCOS (19/group); 18–40 y; BMI > 27; Rotterdam criteria | 4-month individualized moderate exercise (aerobic and strength training); moderate to high intensity; 2–3 d/wk; 45–60 min; physiotherapist supervised | N/A (hormones) | LH, FSH T, fT, SHBG AMH FI, HOMA-IR, IGF-1 |
| RCT w/2 arms, ex or no ex [123] | 32 PCOS (16/group); BMI < 25; Rotterdam criteria | 8-week aerobic and resistance ex; 3 d/wk for 50–60 min; treadmill and step, resistance band; supervised by physiotherapist | ↓FI, HOMA-IR | FSH, LH E2, TT, fT |
| RCT w/2 arms (ex or ex+met) [124] | 66 PCOS; 24.4 ± 4.3 y; BMI 26 ± 4; Rotterdam criteria | 6-month marching in place; 3 d/wk for 30 min; monitored by investigator for first 3 months to ensure HR ≥ 120 bpm | N/A (hormones) | T |
Abbreviations: A4, androstenedione; Anov, anovulatory; APN, adiponectin; AUC, area under curve; cd, cycle days; ex, exercise; HIIT, high intensity interval training; HRmax, maximum heart rate; II, intensity interval; ins, insulin; ISI, insulin sensitivity index; met, metformin; MICT, medium intensity continuous training; NW, normal weight; OB, overweight or obese; OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test; ov, ovulatory; pbo, placebo; PA, physical activity; PEDF, pigment epithelium-derived factor; reps, repetitions; RM, repetition maximum; ST, strength training; wt, weight.