The effect of water-based rhythmic exercise training on glucose homeostasis and thyroid hormones in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the effect of water-based rhythmic exercise training on fasting blood sugar (FBS), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), insulin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and T4 in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

Methods: In this clinical trial, 31 postmenopausal woman with metabolic syndrome aged 69.16 ± 2.02 years were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=16) and a control group (n=15). The training program was composed of 12 weeks of water-based rhythmic exercise training performed intermittently for 60 min three times a week. Before and after training, blood was analyzed for glucose homeostasis, T4, and TSH. Data were subjected to analysis by paired t-test and covariance analysis at the p<0.05 level.

Results: The exercise training intervention reduced the FBS and insulin significantly (p=0.000). The growth hormone (GH) index was increased significantly only in the experimental group (p=0.037) whereas no significant variations occurred in the insulin-like growth factor-1 (p=0.712). It was also found that TSH and T4 change in the experimental group as compared to the pre-test.

Conclusions: Water-based rhythmic exercise training may improve blood glucose homeostasis, TSH, and T4.

Keywords: HOMA; T4; TSH; exercise training; metabolic syndrome.