Effect of resistance training on phase angle in older women: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Phase angle (PhA) is an angular-derived bioelectrical impedance parameter based on resistance and reactance that has been widely used in different populations as an objective indicator of cellular health. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of resistance training (RT) on PhA in older women. Forty-one older women (67.2 ± 4.5 years, 64.0 ± 12.3 kg, 154.7 ± 5.2 cm, and 26.6 ± 4.8 kg/m ) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a training group (TG, n = 19) that underwent progressive RT for 12 weeks (eight exercises, three sets of 10-15 repetitions maximum, three times per week) or a control group (CG, n = 22) that did not perform any type of exercise during the intervention period. Resistance, reactance, PhA, total body water (TBW), intracellular (ICW) and extracellular (ECW) water were assessed by spectral bioelectrical impedance. There was a significant group by time interaction (P < 0.05) for PhA, TBW, and ICW in which only the TG increased their scores after the intervention period (PhA = +6.5%, TBW = +2.8%, and ICW = +5.1%). The results suggest that progressive RT promotes an increase in PhA in older women. Therefore, the PhA seems to be a good parameter to assess changes in cellular health during RT intervention.

Correlations between resistance training‐induced changes on phase angle and biochemical markers in older women

“…Previous findings from our laboratory with a different cohort of older adult women, 25 as well as other findings in the literature, have already shown that the PhA can be improved by RT. 26,41 Previous studies also have observed an improvement in inflammatory markers after RT in the same magnitude as reported by Onable-Pearson 24 for TNF-α and Tomeleri et al for IL-6.…”

“…28 Thus, because the PhA is a cellular health parameter, it is logical to raise the hypothesis that older adults may realize improvements in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers after a RT intervention, which in turn could be associated with an improvement in PhA. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was twofold: (a) to determine whether our previous findings that RT improves PhA in older adults 25 would be replicated in a new cohort of older adults; and (b) to investigate whether RT-induced adaptations on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers are related to healthy adaptations in PhA in older women. We hypothesized that RT would promote positive changes in PhA, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in older women and that these modifications in inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers induced by RT would be associated with PhA.…”

“…21 Specific to PhA, previous studies involving different cohorts of older women have indicated the effectiveness of RT on increasing PhA. [25][26][27] The mechanisms by which RT induces increases in PhA are still unknown. Indeed, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers can damage the cell membrane.…”

The prognostic value of standardized phase angle in adults with acute leukemia: A prospective study

“…Specifically, promising work has been done to determine the effects of interventions, chiefly resistance training and nutritional support, to minimize sarcopenia and increase muscle function in patients with low PhA. [40][41][42] In conclusion, our findings suggest that in newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients undergoing intensive induction chemotherapy, SPhA technology may provide important prognostic information for TRM and OS. PhA is an objective, repeatable, high-precision measure in acute leukemia patients and, unlike other prognostic factors in this population, is potentially subject to intervention.…”

“…A better understanding of the content validity of PhA would allow for stronger evidence to pursue interventions based on the information provided by the measure. Specifically, promising work has been done to determine the effects of interventions, chiefly resistance training and nutritional support, to minimize sarcopenia and increase muscle function in patients with low PhA …”