Effects of eight weeks of TRX training on serum levels of PGC-1α and citrate synthase in overweight women

Background: TRX training is a new training method that has beneficial effects on improving balance and strength. However, the role of these types of training on the factors associated with function and mitochondrial biogenesis is not understood. Therefore, the purpose of present study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of TRX training on serum levels of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and citrate synthase in overweight women. Methods: All subjects gave written informed consent after a detailed description of the study procedures. The protocol of this study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Sport Sciences Research Institute (SSRI) in Iran. The present study was experimental and was conducted in Shahid Ghaffari women's club in Tehran under the supervision of Alzahra University from May 2018 to January 2019. For this purpose, 30 overweight women after primary alignment on basis of body mass index (25-30 kg/m2) were divided into two groups: control (n=14) and TRX training (n=16). The TRX training protocol was performed for eight weeks and 3 sessions per week, which included 6 main movements (squat, rear deltoid row, biceps curl, chest press, low row, rotational ward) that lasted 60 minutes per session. According to consideration the physical condition of each person, the subjects were free to modulate the exercise intensity by changing the body inclinations. Each exercise provided 4 sets of 12 repetitions separated by one-minute rest. Blood sampling was performed in two stages of pre-test and 48 hours after the last session of the exercise in overnight fasting state. After collection of serum samples, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to measure serum levels of PGC-1α and citrate synthase. Results: The results showed that TRX training caused no significant change in the body weight and body mass index compared to the control group. In addition, TRX training increased significantly the serum levels of PGC-1α and citrate synthase compared to the pre-test and the control group. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that eight weeks of TRX training could increase serum levels of PGC-1α and citrate synthase in overweight women.