Impact of resistance training program configuration on the circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor response.

This study examined the acute and resting changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inteleukin-6 (IL-6) andif changes in these biomarkers were correlated during resistance training (RT). Fifteen men with ≥2 years of RT experience (age: 23 }3 years, body mass: 84.4 } 12.3 kg) participated. Subjects performed RT 3×/week for 6 weeks in either a high-repetition (HR; n = 8) orlow-repetition (LR; n = 7) group. Protocols during week 1 were HR – Monday: 4 (sets) × 12 (repetitions) at 60% of 1-repetition maximum,Wednesday: 4 × 10 at 65%, Friday: 5 × 8 at 70%; LR – Monday: 8 × 6 at 75%, Wednesday 9 × 4 at 80%, Friday: 10 × 2 at 85%. Total volumewas equated for the 6 weeks but not for individual sessions. Greater volume and intensity were performed in LR versus HR (p < 0.01)on Mondays. Plasma was collected immediately before and after exercise of the Monday session. There were no significant interactionsor main effects for BDNF (p > 0.05). There was a moderate between-group effect size (0.57) in favor of LR in week 6, suggesting apotentially greater acute increase in BDNF in LR versus HR. For IL-6, a statistically significant main effect was observed for training(p < 0.0001), showing an acute increase in IL-6 in both weeks (p < 0.01); however, no other 3-way or 2-way interactions existed (p > 0.05).A minimum volume threshold of RT may be needed to induce acute elevations in BDNF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]