High-intensity aerobic training can reverse signs of aging

Who does not want to look slim, young and beautiful!

A study finds, high-intensity aerobic exercise can reverse some cellular aspects of aging in adults that contributes to synthese protein, thus reversing a major adverse effect of aging.

The findings appeared in Cell Metabolism, indicated all training types improved lean body mass and insulin sensitivity, but only high-intensity and combined training improved aerobic capacity and mitochondrial function for skeletal muscle.

High-intensity intervals also improved muscle protein content that not only enhanced energetic functions, but also caused muscle enlargement, especially in older adults.

Mayo clinic researchers compared high-intensity interval training, resistance training and combined training.

"We encourage everyone to exercise regularly, but the take-home message for aging adults that supervised high-intensity training is probably best, because, both metabolically and at the molecular level, it confers the most benefits," said senior study author K. Sreekumaran Nair.

He explained the high-intensity training reversed some manifestations of aging in the body's protein function.

The researchers emphasised an important finding: Exercise training significantly enhanced the cellular machinery responsible for making new proteins. That contributes to protein synthesis, thus reversing a major adverse effect of aging.

However, adding resistance training is important to achieve significant muscle strength.

They enrolled 36 men and 36 women from a younger group (ages 18 to 30) and an older group (ages 65 to 80).

Each group received a different exercise assignment: either high-intensity interval biking, strength training with weights, or a regimen that combined strength training and HIIT.

They tracked metabolic and molecular changes in a group of young and older adults over 12 weeks, gathering data 72 hours after individuals in randomised groups completed each type of exercise.

The results suggested that HIIT group, younger participants saw a 49 percent increase in mitochondrial capacity, while older participants saw a 69 percent increase.

Most cells in our bodies contain infrastructure known as mitochondria. These "organelles" -- a mini-version of an organ within a cell -- perform as tiny batteries do, producing much-needed energy.