| Description: |
Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in individuals with overweight/obesity and this can be largely attributed to the entrapment of VitD in adipose tissue due to impaired lipolytic stimulation. Considering the well-described role of exercise in stimulating lipolysis, the present study investigated the efficacy of multicomponent-type high-intensity interval training (m-HIIT) in increasing 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in males with overweight/obesity. Twenty middle-aged males (43.5 ± 5 years, BMI: 30.7 ± 3.3 kg/m2) participated in three weekly supervised m-HIIT sessions over a 12-week period and underwent assessments at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks. Primary outcomes were total body fat mass, android fat, hepatorenal index, and serum 25(OH)D. Participants’ daily physical activity and dietary intake habits remained unaltered throughout the 12-week training period. The m-HIIT intervention reduced fat mass (by 3% at 12 weeks), android fat (by 3.7% at 6 weeks and 4.4% at 12 weeks), and hepatorenal index (by 8% at 12 weeks). Serum 25(OH)D levels increased by ~14% (+3.21 ng/mL, p = 0.002) and ~31% (+7.24 ng/mL, p < 0.001) at 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. The elevation of 25(OH)D levels at 12 weeks was inversely related to fat mass loss (R = 0.53, p = 0.016). Plasma SGPT, SGOT, ALP, γ-GT, fetuin-A, and calcium levels remained unaltered after the 12-week training period. In conclusion, m-HIIT may be useful as a non-pharmacological intervention to increase circulating VitD levels in adults with overweight/obesity. |