Effects of Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise Order on Blood Variables in Adult Males: A 12-Week Study

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to analyze the differences in blood variables before and after exercise according to the order of aerobic and anaerobic exercise in male college students aged 19 years or older.METHODS Thirty adult male participants were recruited via a public announcement at University D, located in City C. The participants were randomly assigned to either Group A (aerobic exercise followed by anaerobic exercise, n = 15) or Group B (anaerobic exercise followed by aerobic exercise, n = 15). The mean values and standard deviations of participants’ physical characteristics were calculated and reported. For statistical analysis, independent sample t-tests and cross-tabulations by group and time period were conducted to compare Group A and Group B. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.RESULTS Post-hoc analysis of lactate levels revealed significant differences between exercise groups only after exercise (p < 0.05), whereas cross-sectional analysis showed significant post-exercise differences across all groups (p < 0.001). For total cholesterol, post-hoc analysis indicated a significant difference between Groups A and B before exercise (p < 0.01), and a within-group change was observed only in Group B (p < 0.001). However, no significant between-group differences were detected in cross-sectional comparisons after exercise. Regarding triglycerides, between-group analysis demonstrated significant post-exercise differences (p < 0.05), while cross-sectional analysis revealed no significant effects. Cross-sectional analysis of pre- and post-exercise values showed a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol only in Group B (p < 0.001), with no significant changes in the other groups. Finally, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol differed significantly between Groups A and B (p < 0.001), but cross-sectional analysis did not reveal significant between-group differences.CONCLUSIONS In summary, significant differences in lactate, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein were observed between Groups A and B before exercise. After exercise, changes in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were observed specifically in Group B.