The effect of circuit training on muscle synthesis’s indices, neurotrophic factors, and physical fitness in elderly women: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Sport sciences for health Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 931 - 938
• Main Authors: Baharavar, Fatemeh, Vakili, Javad, Sari-Sarraf, Vahid, Pourmanaf, Hadi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milan Springer Milan 01.06.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Body mass index; Brain research; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Cardiovascular disease; Cognitive ability; Exercise; Human Physiology; Knee; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Muscle strength; Older people; Physical fitness; Quality of life; Sports Medicine; Strength training; Womens health; GH; IGF-1; NGF; BDNF; Elderly women; Circuit training
• ISSN: 1824-7490; 1825-1234
• DOI: 10.1007/s11332-025-01330-z

Purpose Regular physical activity can improve muscle synthesis, cognitive function, and physical fitness and consequently delay the side effects of aging. However, the effect of circuit training, which improves multiple components of physical fitness, is still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of circuit training on serum levels of muscle synthesis indices, neurotrophic factors, and physical fitness in elderly women. Methods A total of 24 healthy elderly females (age 65 ± 3 years) were recruited and randomly divided into two groups as follows: circuit training (CT, n  = 12) and control (C, n  = 12). Participants in the CT group performed circuit training (three times a week at an intensity of 40–60% of 1 repetition maximum) for 8 weeks. Participants in the C group did not receive any intervention. Serum levels of growth hormone (GH), Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF_1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and physical fitness (cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, and balance) were measured before and after the 8 weeks of intervention. Results Serum levels of GH, IGF-1, BDNF, and, NGF were increased in the CT group after 8 weeks ( p  < 0.001). Cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, and balance were also improved in the CT group after 8 weeks of intervention ( p  < 0.001). Conclusions Circuit training could improve muscle synthesis, neurotrophic factors, and physical fitness in elderly women. To confirm these results, further studies are recommended. Trial registration Retrospectively registered. IRCT20240108060648N1. Registration date: 2024/02/12. URL: https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/search/result?query=IRCT20240108060648N1