Comparison of the effects of rest intervals between sets of resistance exercise on insulin-like growth factor-1 and myostatin levels in male amateur bodybuilders

Subject Areas : New studies in exercise metabolism and physical activity

mehdi Haeri rad ¹ , Ali Yaghoubi ²

1 - Department of Sport Sciences, Boj.C., Islamic Azad University, Bojnord
2 - Department of Sport Sciences, Boj.C., Islamic Azad University, Bojnord

Received: 2025-06-02 Accepted : 2025-07-21 Published : 2024-02-06

Keywords: Resistance training, Rest intervals, Myostatin, Insulin-like growth factor-1,

Abstract :

the purpose of present study was comparison of the effects of rest intervals between sets of resistance exercise on insulin-like growth factor-1 and myostatin levels in male amateur bodybuilders.

Twelve young male amateur bodybuilders aged 20 to 35 were selected. The training protocol was implemented as a counterbalance, so that in the third week, the subjects performed the above movements with a one-minute rest interval between sets (RI1). In the fourth week, the subjects performed the above movements with a three-minute rest interval between sets (RI3). Blood was collected from the subjects' arm veins in three groups before, after the resistance training session with a one-minute rest interval between sets, and after the resistance training session with a three-minute rest interval between sets ). 

  there was a significant difference between the levels of IGF-1 in the pre-test, the first and second post-test (P=0.036). In addition, the results of the Tukey post-test showed that there is no significant difference between the pre-test, the first and second post-test (P>0.05). Also,  there was  a significant difference between the levels of MSTN in the pre-test, the first and second post-test (P=0.013). In addition, the results showed that the difference between the pre-test and the first post-test was significant (P=0.020), the difference between the pre-test and the second post-test was significant, and the difference between the first and second post-test was not significant (P>0.05).

 According to the findings of the present study, this resting domain may be considered the point of differentiation of activated proteins in the processes of strength development and bulking at the cellular level.

References:

1. Yousefvand Z, Rahmati M, Mirnasuri R. The Effect of 12 Weeks of Resistance Training on Serum Levels of Myonectin and FGF-21 in Inactive Middle-aged Men. Journal of Arak University of Medical Sciences. 2024;27(3):164-70.
2. Yang H, Zheng Y, Yu T, Wu B, Liu Z, Liu S, et al. A functional role for myostatin in muscle hyperplasia and hypertrophy revealed by comparative transcriptomics in Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2025;307:142308.
3. Zhong C, Zeng X, Yi X, Yang Y, Hu J, Yin R, et al. The Function of Myostatin in Ameliorating Bone Metabolism Abnormalities in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Exercise. Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 2025;47(3):158.
4. Li B, Feng L, Wu X, Cai M, Yu JJ, Tian Z. Effects of different modes of exercise on skeletal muscle mass and function and IGF-1 signaling during early aging in mice. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2022;225(21):jeb244650.
5. Rezaeimanesh D. The Effect of Selected Aquatic Training on Serum Levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 and Mmyostatin in Middle-aged Male Swimmers. Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal. 2024;23(2):103-13.
6. Mcleod JC, Currier BS, Lowisz CV, Phillips SM. The influence of resistance exercise training prescription variables on skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical function in healthy adults: An umbrella review. Journal of sport and health science. 2024;13(1):47-60.
7. Willardson JM, Burkett LN. The effect of different rest intervals between sets on volume components and strength gains. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2008;22(1):146-52.
8. Gorzi A, Jazaei R, Rahmani A, Bahari A. The effects of different rest interval durations between resistance exercise sets on gene expression of CGRP and IGF-1 of muscle in male wistar rats. Research in Sport Medicine and Technology. 2019;17(18):23-33.
9. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Skrepnik M, Davies TB, Mikulic P. Effects of rest interval duration in resistance training on measures of muscular strength: a systematic review. Sports Medicine. 2018;48:137-51.
10. Abbasi T, Moghadasi M. Comparison the effect of very short vs. short rest period between the sets in resistance training on hormonal adaptations and thigh muscles hypertrophy. Sport Physiology & Management Investigations. 2023;15(3):57-70.
11. Karimifard M, Arazi H, Mehrabani J. Twelve weeks rest–pause and traditional resistance training: effects on myokines and performance adaptations among recreationally trained men. Stresses. 2023;3(1):302-15.
12. Asadpour SM, Daryanoosh F, Salesi M, Nemati J. Effect of Eight Weeks of Resistance Training on Myostatin and Folistatin Proteins Content in Gastrocnemius Muscle Tissue of Elderly Rats. The Journal of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. 2020;28(10):3134-43.
13. Kraemer WJ, Fleck SJ. Optimizing strength training: designing nonlinear periodization workouts: Human Kinetics; 2007.
14. Jackson AS, Pollock ML, Ward A. Generalized equations for predicting body density of women. Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 1980;12(3):175-81.
15. Siri WE. Body composition from fluid spaces and density: analysis of methods. 1956.
16. Brzycki M. Strength testing—predicting a one-rep max from reps-to-fatigue. Journal of physical education, recreation & dance. 1993;64(1):88-90.
17. Rodrigues BM, Dantas E, de Salles BF, Miranda H, Koch AJ, Willardson JM, et al. Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase responses after upper-body resistance exercise with different rest intervals. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2010;24(6):1657-62.
18. Senna GW, Dantas EHM, Scudese E, Brandão PP, Lira VA, Baffi M, et al. Higher muscle damage triggered by shorter inter-set rest periods in volume-equated resistance exercise. Frontiers in physiology. 2022;13:827847.
19. Eiras A, Reis R, Silva P, Monteiro A, Machado M. Comparison of two different rest intervals on drop jump: effects on muscle damage markers. Biomedical Human Kinetics. 2009;1:76.
20. Azizbeigi K, Atashak S, Stannard SR. Effect of different rest interval lengths of resistance exercise on lipid peroxidation and creatine kinase responses. Kinesiology. 2015;47(2.):139-44.
21. Ghaderi M, Rahimi R, Ravasi A, Jaafari M. The effect of rest interval between sets on markers of muscle damage in professional bodybuilders. Glob J Eng Technol. 2012;3:9-15.
22. Barzegari Marvast H, Akbarnejad A, Norouzi J. Effect of 12 Weeks Incremental Resistance Training on Serum Levels of Myostatin, Follistatin, and IGF-I in Sedentary Elderly Men. Iranian Journal of War and Public Health. 2024;16(1):1-8.
23. Li B-W, Feng L-L, Tian Z-J. Research progress of the role of IGF-1 in metabolic diseases and the effect of exercise intervention. Sheng li xue bao:[Acta Physiologica Sinica]. 2021;73(2):342-52.
24. Boroujerdi SS, Rahimi R. Acute GH and IGF-I responses to short vs. long rest period between sets during forced repetitions resistance training system. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation. 2008;30(2):31-8.
25. Amirsasan R, Sari-Saraf V, Pourgholi T, Armanfar M. Comparing the effects of combined endurance-resistance training versus resistance-endurance on growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I in non-athlete prepubertal girls. Feyz Medical Sciences Journal. 2015;19(3):214-22.
26. Shabani M, Hovanloo F, Ebrahim K, Hedayati M. The effect of acute resistance exercise on BDNF, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in the elderly. Iranian Journal of Ageing. 2014;9(3):218-26.
27. Bamman MM, Shipp JR, Jiang J, Gower BA, Hunter GR, Goodman A, et al. Mechanical load increases muscle IGF-I and androgen receptor mRNA concentrations in humans. American journal of physiology-endocrinology and metabolism. 2001;280(3):E383-E90.
28. Rahmani N, Motamedi P, Amani-Shalamzari S, Escobar KA, Suzuki K. Swimming in cold water increases the browning process by diminishing the Myostatin pathway. Molecular Biology Reports. 2024;51(1):884.
29. Kazemi F, Nourshahi M. Acute and Delayed Response of Myostatin and Insulin Resistance to Circuit Resistance Exercise. Journal of Sport Biosciences. 2013;4(14):129-43.
30. Azamian Jazi A, Abdellah E. The effects of elastic band resistance training on serum levels of growth differentiation factor 11, myostatin, and insulin resistance in overweight elderly women. Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology. 2024;17(3):91-106.
31. Willoughby DS. Effects of an alleged myostatin-binding supplement and heavy resistance training on serum myostatin, muscle strength and mass, and body composition. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism. 2004;14(4):461-72.