Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
10.22122/jeoct.2026.595101.1222
Abstract
Background: 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.
Methods: 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).
Results: 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).
Conclusions: 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.
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