Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk

Abstract Aging in women accelerates declines in anabolic hormones and disrupts lipid homeostasis, increasing cardiometabolic risk. Whether combining blood flow restriction (BFR) with functional training provides greater benefits for irisin, IGF-1, and lipid indices than functional training alone remains unclear. This study examined the effects of 8 weeks of functional training with and without BFR on these outcomes in older women. Thirty-six older women (mean age, 63.41 years) were randomly assigned to functional training with BFR (FTBFR; 20–55% 1RM), functional training (FT; 40–75% 1RM), or control (CON). The exercise protocol included 10 functional movements performed three times weekly for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected before and 48 hours after the final session. Serum irisin and IGF-1 were measured by ELISA, and lipid indices (TC, TG, LDL, and HDL) were assessed using enzymatic assays. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and ANCOVA (P < 0.05). Significant between-group differences were observed for irisin (P = 0.0001), IGF-1 (P = 0.001), and the LDL/HDL ratio (P = 0.0001). Both training groups increased irisin (FTBFR, 32.85%; FT, 23.98%) and IGF-1 (FTBFR, 14.03%; FT, 9.28%) and reduced the LDL/HDL ratio (FTBFR, 25.09%; FT, 18.39%), whereas no changes occurred in CON. FTBFR produced a greater improvement in the LDL/HDL ratio than FT (P = 0.025). Eight weeks of functional training improved endocrine and lipid-related biomarkers in older women. Adding BFR may enhance lipid-related adaptations during low-load functional training, although its independent contribution requires further investigation.

Abstract Type 3 diabetes (T3D), defined by the concurrence of type 2 diabetes and age-related cognitive impairment, is linked to progressive deterioration in both cognitive and physical function. Emerging evidence suggests that functional exercise training prescribed in relation to individualized lactate thresholds may enhance neurocognitive and physical adaptations by matching exercise intensity to individual metabolic capacity and systemic organ cross-talk. Randomized controlled trial will examine the effects of long-term, lactate-threshold–based functional training on cognitive and physical function in older adults with T3D, highlighting the role of exercise intensity in optimizing outcomes. Sixty-six adults aged 60–80 years with Type 3 diabetes and cognitive impairment, assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination, will be recruited from the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Diabetes Association and randomly assigned to three groups. The intervention group will undertake a six-month, individualized high-intensity functional training program combining supervised and home-based sessions. Primary outcomes include changes in cognitive performance and physical function assessed using validated and standardized measures. It is hypothesized that lactate-threshold–guided functional exercise at tailored intensities will lead to significant improvements in both cognitive and physical function, emphasizing the critical role of exercise intensity in modulating neurocognitive and functional adaptations in elderly individuals with type 3 diabetes. This study aims to provide robust evidence for intensity-specific, lactate-threshold–based exercise prescriptions in this population.

Abstract Resistance exercises and nutritional strategy are the best ways to prevent with age- related muscle atrophy (sarcopenia) by improving the physiological function of skeletal muscle. This study investigated the effect of 8 weeks of Water resistance training with consumption of dark chocolate on the changes and correlation of IGF-1 and FOXO3 in elderly women. In this study, 40 sedentary elderly women with an age range of 60-73 years were randomly divided into four groups: 1. water resistance training, 2. water resistance training + dark chocolate, 3. dark chocolate, 4. control. The subjects of the training groups did water resistance training for eight weeks. During these 8 weeks, the dark chocolate groups consumed 30 grams of 83% dark chocolate every day, and the control group received neither exercise nor Dark chocolate. Blood sampling was done 48 hours before the study and after the end of the last training session. Expressions of IGF-1 and FOXO3 were measured by real time-PCR method. After 8 weeks of water resistance training and consumption of dark chocolate, the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) gene increased significantly compared to the pretest (p<0.05). However, FOXO3 did not change significantly (p>0.05). These findings underscore the potential of targeted exercise and dietary interventions in enhancing muscle health among the elderly, although further research is needed to understand the implications of unchanged FOXO3 in this context.

Abstract Despite numerous studies, the association between osteoporosis and aortic valve calcification is not clear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between aortic valve calcification and osteoporosis in an Iranian population over 60. In this cross-sectional study, patients aged over 60 years referring to the Bone Mineral Densitometry center of Baqiyatallah Hospital (Tehran, Iran) during 2019-2020 were evaluated. Trans-thoracic echocardiography was done for all patients to evaluate the existence of aortic valve calcification. Patients were compared in two groups with and without osteoporosis (T-score < -2.5) as well as in two groups with and without aortic calcification. Two-hundred patients with a mean age of 65.92 ± 5.59 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 25.73 ± 4.08 kg/m2 were studied (84.5% female). Patients with osteoporosis (n=104) had lower BMI and greater frequency of aortic calcification compared to the patients without osteoporosis (n = 96). Patients with aortic calcification had higher age, lower BMI, and higher proportion of osteoporosis compared to the patients without aortic calcification (P<0.05). According to the results, it is suggested that elderly patients with osteoporosis and hypertension be evaluated for aortic valve calcification. This evaluation seems more crucial for older people with high blood pressure, lower BMI, and osteoporosis. Moreover, patients with aortic valve calcification could be evaluated for osteoporosis. Confirming the above results requires further investigation with a larger sample size.