The effects of three types of exercise training on steroid hormones in physically inactive middle-aged adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract in brief

• The study examined how three different exercise programs—moderate continuous exercise, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and HIIT combined with electromyostimulation—affect steroid hormone levels in sedentary middle-aged adults over 12 weeks.
• Results showed that all training types increased beneficial hormones like dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone, while reducing cortisol levels, thereby potentially improving hormonal balance associated with aging and inactivity.
• The findings suggest that high-intensity interval training, especially combined with electromyostimulation, effectively enhances steroid hormones and could be a valuable strategy to counteract hormonal imbalances caused by inactivity in middle-aged adults.