Cardiac adipose tissue, also referred to as epicardial adipose tissue, is the fat deposits that exist on the surface of the myocardium. The increased deposit of epicardial or pericardial adipose tissues may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to examine whether endurance or resistance training intervention can regulate epicardial or pericardial adipose tissue mass.
This secondary analysis of a randomized, accessor-blinded clinical trial included a total of 50 physically inactive participants with abdominal obesity. The participants were randomly assigned to a supervised high-intensity interval endurance training (45 minutes, 3 times a week), resistance training (45 minutes, 3 times a week), or no exercise (control group). The primary outcome of the study was a change in epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue mass, as examined by magnetic resonance imaging.
Out of 50 participants, 39 (78%) completed the study. Among participants who underwent endurance training, a 32% reduction in epicardial adipose tissue mass was reported, as compared with 24% in the resistance training group. Endurance training did not result in a substantial reduction in the pericardial adipose tissue mass (11%), as compared with 31% in the resistance training group.
The research concluded that both endurance and resistance training were associated with a significant reduction in epicardial adipose tissue mass, but only resistance training resulted in a considerable reduction in the pericardial adipose tissue mass.
Ref: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2737412?resultClick=1
