Barbell Training is Big Medicine

[jheald1]

Interesting: they were able to publish a paper with a conclusion that was new a few decades ago (I.e. the role of p53 in apoptosis), but they "confirmed" it is the exact same in people who work out...

[tnumrych]

If I follow that correctly, it would seem to suggest that resistance training causes up-regulation of apoptosis in the untrained (it would be very useful here to know whether or not the the training sessions for the two groups were scaled appropriately, i.e. sufficient to induce adaptation in both groups), and that trained individuals have a higher IGF-1 response to training.

I can think of a few ways to interpret these results, but they are pretty interesting. I also note some strong language in the abstract there, so I would imagine the effect size must be fairly large, given the small sample used. I'd look up the paper, but ain't got time for that now.

Just requested the paper through my school's library. I'm willing to share with those who PM me to request it.

[dawson]

Thanks for posting such a fine article, for dealing with the complexities of the subject matter and for framing the subject in profound simple terms. We all see the cost our society is paying each and every day, in many ways. When will people wake up and say enough is enough? Probably only when folks like you can grab people by the throat in the office and scare the living crap out of them is my guess.

[vanslix]

This just in. Directly on point.


Abstract: Sharafi, H, and Rahimi, R.

The effect of resistance exercise on p53, caspase-9, and caspase-3 in trained and untrained men.

J Strength Cond Res 26(4): 1142–1148, 2012

—Apoptosis is a programmed cell death that has been demonstrated in human and animal studies and plays an essential role to remove injured cells after acute strenuous exercise. Protein p53 plays important roles in regulating apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the effects of acute resistance exercise (RE) on serum p53, caspase-9, and caspase-3, markers of apoptosis, and whether resistance training status influences the magnitude of the RE-induced apoptosis. Nine resistance-trained (RT) (age, 22.37 ± 1.99 years; height, 174 ± 5.04 cm; body weight, 71.32 ± 5.57 kg; and body mass index [BMI] 23.58 ± 2.05 kg·m−2) and 9 untrained (UT) college-age men (age, 22.25 ± 2.13 years; height, 171 ± 3.4 cm; body weight, 68.45 ± 3.23 kg; and BMI, 23.41 ± 1.08 kg·m−2) volunteered to participate in this study. Resistance-trained and UT men completed an RE bout consisting of 4 sets of 6 exercise at 80% of 1 repetition maximum until failure. Serum levels of p53, caspase-9, and caspase-3 were examined at preexercise (pre), immediately post (IP), 3 hours post (3 hours post), and 24 hours post RE (24 hours post). In UT, serum levels of p53, caspase-9, and caspase-3 were significantly increased at IP compared with RT. However, plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 level was higher for RT compared with UT at IP.

Collectively, our data suggest the role of p53 in regulating apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway as measured by caspase-9 and caspase-3 after acute RE in UT. Our results also revealed that regular RT alters apoptosis biomarkers, especially the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis.

So from whence comes the caspases? What cell types are undergoing intrinsic apoptosis? And why? And how would this compare with other exercise types?

[Jonathon Sullivan]

So from whence comes the caspases? What cell types are undergoing intrinsic apoptosis?

Caspase assays were taken from serum samples, so your guess is as good as mine. And we don't actually know that it was intrinsic apoptosis that was being activated because the authors apparently did not look at APAF-1 or cytochrome c.

And why?

Good question.

And how would this compare with other exercise types?

An interesting question, isn't it? If you find any papers that answer it, please send them my way.

For me, what's interesting about this paper is that the finding is consistent with a model in which resistance training promotes an (apparently systemic) anti-apoptotic GF response. As noted above, I'll have more to say about this paper in this year's science review.

[sbhikes]

I just read your article and watched your video. I sent the video to my significant other who is 62 years old. The both of us have long believed (and practiced) that hiking is the best medicine. We have both known people who were able to hike well into their 80s and maintain mobility, youth and adventurousness. I had no idea what strength training could do on a molecular level. I am even more excited to have started it recently. No wonder I always feel so energized and fired up afterwards. It's all that growth stuff coursing through my veins. I hope that my boyfriend also takes it up. It's too bad that barbell training has the aura of being all about body building. The main reason I took it up was my attempt to get stronger doing boot-camp-type stuff wasn't working anymore and I hoped that maybe finally I could get a decently-functioning metabolism that would let me eat to my appetite without being so fat. I'm not sure the last one is ever going to happen, but at least I am getting stronger, and that feels great when I'm rest-stepping up some big giant mountain.

[Jonathon Sullivan]

It's too bad that barbell training has the aura of being all about body building.

This misperception, and the curious reticence of physicians, are two of the principle obstacles we face. But I'd rather light a candle than curse the darkness.

[TomF]

But I'd rather light a candle than curse the darkness.

Fuck yeah.

[sbhikes]

Dr. Sullivan, you might also add to your presentation that people might be able to avoid their ED and Low-T medication with an Rx for barbells.

[Simma Park]

Dr. Sullivan, you might also add to your presentation that people might be able to avoid their ED and Low-T medication with an Rx for barbells.

I'm not sure this would be something that one could claim is backed up by research. Sully?