Efeito do High-Intensity Interval Resistance Training de baixo volume sobre o PSA, marcadores inflamatórios e indicadores de aptidão física em homens com câncer de próstata

Abstract

Introduction: Physical training has been advocated as an adjuvant strategy for prostate cancer treatment due to its beneficial effects on PSA levels, systemic inflammation, and physical fitness. However, the effects of low-volume, high-intensity interval resistance training (HIRT) protocols remain unclear in this population. Objective: To analyze the effects of a low-volume HIRT protocol on PSA, inflammatory markers, and physical fitness indicators in men with prostate cancer. Methods: The sample consisted of 16 men with localized prostate cancer (age: 66.0 ± 4.6 years, body mass: 79 ± 13.7 kg, height: 169 ± 5.4 cm, BMI: 27.8 kg/m²), divided into two groups: G1 (n = 8): low-volume HIRT circuit (3 rounds, 4 exercises, 30 s of effort, and 30 s of rest); G2 (n = 8): no exercise (control). The training lasted 12 weeks. In the week prior to the intervention, both groups underwent assessments of PSA, inflammatory markers, muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and body composition. The same evaluations were repeated in the week following the training period. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare results between groups and time points, complemented by independent t-tests to analyze percentage variation between groups at the post-intervention time point (p ≤ 0.05). Results: The ANOVA revealed strength gains favoring the HIRT group for the bench press (p = 0.038), while percentage variation between groups showed strength gains in both the bench press and leg press (p = 0.0002 for both). No differences were observed for body composition indicators (total body mass: p = 0.928; lean mass: p = 0.897; fat mass: p = 0.966; body fat percentage: p = 0.939). Regarding cardiorespiratory fitness, increases favoring HIRT were observed for VO₂ LV1 (p = 0.054) and Work Rate LV1 (p = 0.053), while percentage variation between groups showed a difference for peak VO₂ (p = 0.039), with no differences for other variables. Additionally, no differences were found between groups for PSA (p = 0.91) and blood markers (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The low-volume HIRT protocol elicits significant improvements in muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness without changes in body composition parameters. It also appears to be effective in eliciting positive effects on CRP, which was not observed for PSA, IL-6, or TNF-α. Given the short duration of the intervention and the specific characteristics of the adopted protocol, there is an urgent need for studies with longer follow-up periods, incorporating alternative HIRT circuit configurations, in order to investigate their effects on the variables analyzed in this population