Whole-body Electromyostimulation plus Caloric Restriction in
                    Metabolic Syndrome

Alfonso Bellia; Bruno Ruscello; Rolando Bolognino; Gianluca Briotti; Paolo Roberto Gabrielli; Adriano Silvestri; Cristina Rosazza; Francesca Ambruoso; Mauro Lombardo; Andrea Bernardini; Cosimo Calabrese; Davide Lauro; Stefano D’Ottavio

doi:10.1055/a-1171-2003

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2020; 41(11): 751-758
DOI: 10.1055/a-1171-2003

Training & Testing

Whole-body Electromyostimulation plus Caloric Restriction in Metabolic Syndrome

Alfonso Bellia

¹Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

²School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, Telematic University San Raffaele Rome Srl, Roma, Italy

,

Bruno Ruscello

²School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, Telematic University San Raffaele Rome Srl, Roma, Italy

³Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

⁴Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Interdepartmental Centre of Science and Culture of Sport, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

⁵Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata Roma, Italy

,

Rolando Bolognino

⁶Sapienza University of Rome, Unitelma Sapienza, Roma, Italy

,

Gianluca Briotti

²School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, Telematic University San Raffaele Rome Srl, Roma, Italy

³Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

⁴Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Interdepartmental Centre of Science and Culture of Sport, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

⁷Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, Italian Football Federation, Rome, Italy

,

Paolo Roberto Gabrielli

⁸School of Sports and Exercise Sciences , University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

,

Adriano Silvestri

⁹Urban Fitness EMS Institute, Urban Fitness, Milano, Italy

,

Cristina Rosazza

¹⁰Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”, Neuroradiology Dept., Milano, Italy

,

Francesca Ambruoso

³Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

,

Mauro Lombardo

¹¹Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, Telematic University San Raffaele Rome Srl, Roma, Italy

,

Andrea Bernardini

³Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

⁵Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata Roma, Italy

,

Cosimo Calabrese

¹²Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

,

Davide Lauro

¹³Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

,

Stefano D’Ottavio

²School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, Telematic University San Raffaele Rome Srl, Roma, Italy

⁵Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata Roma, Italy

⁷Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, Italian Football Federation, Rome, Italy

¹⁴Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

We investigated early effects of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation added to hypocaloric diet on metabolic syndrome features in sedentary middle-aged individuals. We randomly assigned 25 patients to Whole-Body Electromyostimulation plus caloric restriction or caloric restriction alone for 26 weeks. Anthropometrics, blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR, glycated hemoglobin, lipids, uric acid, creatinphosphokynase, C-reactive protein were assessed. Body composition was evaluated with direct-segmental, multi-frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Both groups lost approximately 10% of weight, with similar effects on waist circumference and fat mass. Change in free-fat mass was significantly different between groups (caloric restriction −1.5±0.2 vs. Whole-Body Electromyostimulation plus caloric restriction +1.1±0.4 kg, p=0.03). Whole-Body Electromyostimulation plus caloric restriction group experienced greater percent reductions in insulin (−45.5±4.4 vs. −28.2±3.6%, p=0.002), HOMA-IR (–51.3±3.2 vs. –25.1±1.8%, p=0.001), triglycerides (−22.5±2.9 vs. −4.1±1.6%, p=0.004) and triglycerides/HDL (p=0.028). Subjects trained with Whole-Body Electromyostimulation had also significant improvement in systolic pressure (138±4 vs. 126±7 mmHg, p=0.038). No discontinuations for adverse events occurred. In middle-aged sedentary subjects with the metabolic syndrome, Whole-Body Electromyostimulation with caloric restriction for 26 weeks can improve insulin-resistance and lipid profile compared to diet alone. Further studies are needed to ascertain long-term efficacy and feasibility of this approach in individuals with the metabolic syndrome.

Key words

whole-body electromyostimulation - resistance training - metabolic syndrome - cardiovascular risk - insulin-resistance - overweight

Full Text

References

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