Metabolic and cardiopulmonary effects of detraining after a structured exercise training programme in young PCOS women

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine if the favourable cardiopulmonary and metabolic benefits induced by exercise training (ET) programme are maintained after its cessation. Patients: Thirty-two young overweight polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women matched for age and body mass index (BMI) with other 32 PCOS patients was enrolled. The first group [PCOS-T (trained)] underwent 24-week ET programme, whereas the second [PCOS-DT (detrained)] underwent 12-week ET programme followed by 12-week detraining period. Methods: At baseline, after 12- and 24-week follow-up, all PCOS women were studied for their hormonal (ovarian and adrenal androgens), metabolic (glucose and insulin) and lipid profile, and underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test. Results: After the initial 12-week ET programme, both PCOS-T and PCOS-DT groups, without differences between groups, showed a similar significant (P <0.05) improvement in BMI, fasting insulin, areas under curve insulin (AUC _INS), glucose and insulin AUC (AUC_GLU/INS), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and maximal oxygen consumption at cardiopulmonary exercise test (VO _2max). At 24-week follow-up, PCOS-T group showed a significant (P <0.05) improvement in BMI, fasting insulin, AUC_INS, AUC _GLU/INS, LDL-C, HDL-C and VO_2max, in comparison to baseline and 12-week follow-up. At same follow-up visit, the all parameters resulted significantly (P <0.05) worsened in PCOS-DT group in comparison to 12-week follow-up and PCOS-T group. In PCOS-DT group, no parameter assessed at 24-week follow-up was significantly different in comparison with baseline. Conclusion: In young PCOS women, 12-week detraining resulted in a complete loss of the favourable adaptations obtained after ET.