Resistance and aerobic training: genetic changes in women with PCOS

Posted October 23, 2024

A study conducted by the INCT Hormona team at Universidade Federal de São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, aimed to evaluate how resistance and aerobic exercises modify one of the main epigenetic mechanisms regulating genome function, namely DNA methylation (the methylome), in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The full research article, titled “Resistance and aerobic training increases genome-wide DNA methylation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome,” can be accessed at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15592294.2024.2305082#abstract

According to Dr. Rosana Reis, a researcher and professor at INCT Hormona, the study sought to identify how these modifications are triggered by physical activity. “We know that the DNA sequence (genome) in these patients does not change, but the epigenome can be modified through lifestyle changes,” she explained. “The epigenome is characterized by chemical alterations that occur in the DNA without altering the nucleotide sequence, but that affect the genome’s structure and function in response to environmental changes, silencing or activating specific genes,” she added.

The study included 56 women with PCOS, recruited from the Endocrine Gynecology Outpatient Clinic at Hospital das Clínicas, affiliated with the Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine at Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP). “Both training protocols were supervised by physical educators and physical therapists and involved 50-minute sessions, held 3 times per week, over a 16-week period,” she explained.

Dr. Cristiana Furtado, the lead author of the study, observed that resistance and aerobic exercises increased global DNA methylation (the methylome), each affecting distinct aspects. “Resistance training modified a greater proportion of the methylome compared with aerobic exercise, consistent with our previous findings, and it was the only modality that improved menstrual cycle regularity during the training period,” she said. “Regarding genes, each type of exercise acts on different pathways, leading to distinct clinical outcomes, as seen in hormonal, metabolic, and anthropometric changes,” she stated.

The researchers explained that DNA methylation, in global genome terms, is one of the mechanisms responsible for protecting DNA from external damage, such as ultraviolet radiation and other mutagens. In this context, increased methylation reduces the risk of new mutations being incorporated into the DNA, while also acting on specific genes. They believe that, in addition to improving PCOS-related complications such as hyperandrogenism, obesity, hypertension, and glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, physical activity—preferably under professional supervision—is an important strategy for promoting overall health.