The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of training frequency on performance and some physiological responses during a 6-day taper. After 18 weeks of training, 9 male middle-distance runners were assigned to a high frequency taper (HFT, n = 5) or a moderate frequency taper (MFT, n = 4), consisting of training daily or resting every third day of the taper. Taper consisted of an 80% nonlinear progressive reduction in high intensity interval training. Blood samples were obtained, and 800 m performance and peak blood lactate ([La] peak ) measured before and after taper. Performance improved significantly after HFT (121.8 +/- 4.7 vs 124.2 +/- 4.9 s, p < 0.05), but not after MFT (126.6 +/- 2.8 vs 127.1 +/- 2.1 s). Neutrophils (2.89 +/- 0.68 vs 2.56 +/- 0.61 10 (3) x mm(-3)), granulocytes (3.08 +/- 0.70 vs 2.77 +/- 0.66 10 (3) x mm(-3)), haptoglobin (79.7 +/- 47.9 vs 60.7 +/- 33.6 mg x dl(-1)), total testosterone (7.39 +/- 1.67 vs 5.52 +/- 0.88 microg x l(-1)) and [La] peak (15.5 +/- 1.5 vs 14.4 +/- 2.0 mmol x l(-1)) significantly increased with taper. [La] peak correlated with performance time before taper (r = -0.76, p < 0.05), and change in [La] peak with change in serum cortisol (r = -0.75, p < 0.05) and total testosterone:cortisol ratio (r = 0.82, p < 0.01). In conclusion, training daily during a 6-day taper brought about significant performance gains, whereas resting every third day did not. High [La] peak and a hormonal milieu propitious to anabolic processes seemed to be necessary for optimum performance.

It is concluded that taper-induced physiological changes in trained middle-distance runners are mainly hematological, and that distinct physiological changes are elicited from LICT and HIIT during taper. Middle-distance runners can progressively reduce their usual training volume by at least 75% during a 6-d taper.

Increased circulating adiponectin and insulin sensitivity are usually observed after body fat loss induced by a weight‐loss diet. Progressive resistance training (PRT) without a concomitant weight‐loss diet significantly decreases visceral fat, thus improving insulin sensitivity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of combined 16‐week PRT and weight‐loss diet on circulating adiponectin and insulin sensitivity index. Thirty‐four obese (BMI: 30–40 kg/m2) women, aged 40–60 year, were randomized to three groups: a control group (C; n = 9); a diet group (WL; n = 12) with a caloric restriction of 500 kcal/d; and a diet plus resistance training group (WL+RT; n = 13) with the same caloric restriction as group WL and a 16‐week supervised whole body PRT of two sessions/week. Both WL and WL+RT groups showed similar decreases in body mass (−6.3% and −7.7%) and visceral fat (−19.9% and −20.5%). WL resulted in an expected increase in circulating levels of adiponectin (P = 0.07) and insulin sensitivity. However, circulating total adiponectin decreased (P < 0.05) in WL+RT group, whereas an improvement in different cardiovascular risk factors (insulin sensitivity, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), etc.) was observed. In conclusion, in obese women a 16‐week combined PRT and weight‐loss diet is accompanied by significant improvements in different cardiovascular risk factors in spite of a significant decrease of circulating adiponectin.

RESUMEN Fundamento. Determinar en una muestra poblacional la prevalencia de los factores de riesgo y del síndrome metabólico, su asociación con las lesiones arterioscleróticas subclínicas y su impacto sobre la enfermedad cardiovascular y cerebrovascular a los 10 años. Material y métodos. (Fase I) Estudio transversal en una muestra aleatoria estratificada por edad y sexo de la población de Navarra entre 35 y 84 años, por encuesta sobre antecedentes vasculares, factores de riesgo, exploración física y analítica. (Fase II) Estudio de cohortes de 10 años de seguimiento, en 500 expuestos y 500 no expuestos al SM, entre 45 y 74 años seleccionados para una razón de riesgo de 2, y una potencia del 82,25%, con exploración de marcadores de arteriosclerosis subclínica por imagen y analíticos. (Fase III) Seguimiento de eventos de enfermedad vascular a los 10 años de la muestra poblacional y de la cohorte prospectiva. Resultados. (Fase 1) Los sujetos requeridos fueron 6.553; excluidos y no localizados 871; la muestra efectiva 5.682 (2.644 hombres y 3.038 mujeres) y completaron el estudio 4.168 sujetos, (73,4%). La prevalencia del síndrome metabólico entre 35 y 84 años fue de 22,1 por 100 (IC95% 20,5-23,7) en hombres y de 17,2% (IC95% 15,8-18,5) en mujeres. Los factores mayores de riesgo vascular presentan prevalencias altas esperadas respecto a otras áreas geográficas excepto la del HDL colesterol bajo que lo fue de 8,5 por 100 (IC95% 7,4-9,6) en hombres y de 1,7% (IC95% 1,3-2,2). Conclusiones. Existen diferencias importantes de riesgo entre sexos en detrimento de los hombres. Las altas cifras promedio de HDL colesterol y la baja prevalencia de síndrome metabólico pueden justificar el menor riesgo de eventos vasculares en Navarra. Palabras clave. Factores de riesgo vascular. Lesiones subclínicas. Navarra (España). Prevalencia. Síndrome metabólico.