New Study Touts Anti-Aging Benefits of Metabolic Resistance Training

It's time to HIIT the gym...

New research published in the journal Cell Metabolism (Volume 25, Issue 3, p581–592, 7 March 2017) has shown that Metabolic Resistance Training can reverse the cellular ageing process in adults. While the Mayo Clinic researchers didn't mention Metabolic Resistance Training by name, they showed that those who did high intensity interval cardio training (HIIT) combined with resistance training (what they called "combined training") combated some of the cellular aspects of aging.

The study was designed so that participants (Ages 18-30 and 65-80) were divided into groups with some doing High-Intensity Interval Cardio Training (HIIT), some doing resistance training and some doing Metabolic Resistance Training (MRT) over a 12 week period. Regardless of the modality of their exercise, all participants saw improvements in lean body mass and insulin sensitivity. However, only the HIIT and MRT exercisers showed improved aerobic capacity, an improvement in mitochondrial function for skeletal muscles (69% improvement for the older exercisers), and improved muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein content. Further, the study authors noted that the MRT exercisers also increased their muscular strength and the older participants had a 21% improvement in oxygen consumption. The resistance only exercisers saw none of those benefits. ​