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. 2021 Feb 16;19:71. doi: 10.1186/s12967-021-02737-1

Table 1.

Oxidative mitochondrial outcomes of RT,  ET and CT  interventions

Authors Cohort Training type Intensity [ET]/repetition range [RT] Intervention duration/frequency Primary outcomes
Menshikova et al. [28] Sedentary older (67 ± 0.6 years) adults (5 men, 3 women) ET 30–40 min of HR 50–70% of VO2 max (progressive)

12 weeks

4-6x/week

↑ETC Activity

↑NADH Oxidase (CI)

↑mtDNA/mitochondrial biogenesis

↑Complex I-IV activity

Short et al. [14] Untrained men/women (21–87 years) ET

20 min at 70% of max HR (start)

40 min at 80% of max HR

16 weeks

3x/week (start)

4x/week (end)

↑Complex IV activity

↑Citrate synthase

↑COX4, ND4 (mito. Enzymes)

↑PGC-1α, TFAM, NRF-1

Broskey et al. [27] Sedentary men and women (60- 80 years) ET 75% of max HR for 30–60 min (progressive along course of intervention)

16 weeks

3x/week

↑ETC Complexes I, III, IV, V w/ greatest elevation of I

↑Mitochondrial volume (proportional to ↑ATPmax)

↑PGC-1α, TFAM, NRF-1

Conley et al. [72] Recreationally active older (69.5 ± 1.2 years) men and women ET 60%—> 80–85% of max HR for 20 min on two different exercises

24 weeks

3x/week

↑ATPmax (+ 31% oxidative capacity)

(Disproportionate to change in Mito vol.)

Jubrias et al. [73] Untrained older (69.2 ± 0.6 years) men and women RT (Leg press + arm training + shoulder lifts)

3 sets of 10–15 repetitions (lighter days)

3–5 sets of 4–8 repetitions (heavier days)

24 weeks

3x/week

↑57% skeletal muscle oxidative capacity

(Greater than that of corresponding ET group)

↑31% mitochondrial density

Mesquita et al. [91] Untrained aged (59 ± 4 years) men and women RT (Full Body) 3 sets of 10–12 repetitions with 1 min rest between sets

10 weeks

2x/week

↑OXPHOS Proteins:

↑180% CI, 39% CII, 89% CIII, 43% CIV, 78% CV

-Unchanged PGC-1α and TFAM

Porter et al. [89] Untrained young men RT (Full-body) 3–4 sets of 8–10 repetitions with 1–2 min rest between sets

12 weeks

3x/week

↑↑ETC Complex I activity

↑Coupled (P) and uncoupled mitochondrial respiration

↑COX4I1/NAMPT mRNA

Flack et al. [92] Untrained older (≥ 60 years) males RT (Full-body) 1 set of 8–12 repetitions

12 weeks

3x/week

No change in oxidative capacity or ROS production
Parise et al. [2] Untrained older men/women (68.5 ± 5.1 years) RT (Full-body) 3 sets of 10–12 repetitions with 2 min rest between sets

14 weeks

3x/week

↑ETC Complex IV activity

↓Oxidative stress

↓17.5% 8-OHdG

Berg et al. [93] Older sedentary adults  (7 men, 3 women, age 75 ± 9 years) RT (Single muscle group MST) 4 sets of 4–5 repetitions with 2 min rest between sets

8 weeks

3x/week

↓Complex I Activity

↓Maximal ADP-dependent respiration

Irving et al. [99] Older (≥ 61 years) and young (18–30 years) sedentary men and women RT 4 sets of 8–10 repetitions

8 weeks

4 days/week

-No significant change in oxidative capacity

↑PGC1α1.SIRT3,

ET 65% VO2 max for 1 h

8 weeks

5 days/week

OXPHOS ETC protein abundance

↑Oxidative Capacity

↑Complex I/Complex II

↑PGC1α1, SIRT3

CT (ET + RT)

65% VO2 max for 30 min, 5 days/week

 + 

2/3 of RT group’s resistance volume,

4 days/week

8 weeks

↑↑OXPHOS ETC protein abundance

↑↑Oxidative capacity

↑TFAM (mitochondrial biogenesis)

MacNeil et al. [100] Sedentary (for 6 months) young adults CT (RT- > ET or ET- > RT) 65% VO2 max for 22.5 min, immediately followed by 3 sets of 10 repetitions with 1 min. rest, and vice versa

6 weeks

3x/week

↑↑ETC complex proteins I–V

↑↑Mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α, PRC)

Sequence of RT > ET is superior than ET > RT at upregulating complex II