The effect of high-intensity aerobic interval training on markers of systemic inflammation in sedentary populations

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2017-06, Vol.117 (6), p.1249-1256
• Main Authors: Allen, Nicholas G., Higham, Samuel M., Mendham, Amy E., Kastelein, Tegan E., Larsen, Penelope S., Duffield, Rob
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerobic capacity; Aged; Anthropometry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Female; High-Intensity Interval Training; Human Physiology; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Oxygen Consumption; Population studies; Sedentary behavior; Sedentary Lifestyle; Sports Medicine; Tumor necrosis factor; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Waist Circumference
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-017-3613-1

Purpose This study examined the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT; 30 s sprint, 4–5 min passive recovery) and prolonged intermittent sprint training (PIST; 10 s sprint, 2–3 min moderate exercise) on the systemic inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), aerobic capacity, and anthropometry in a middle-aged, sedentary population. Methods Fifty-five sedentary adults (age 49.2 ± 6.1 years) were randomised into HIIT ( n  = 20), PIST ( n  = 21), or a sedentary control group (CTRL n  = 14). HIIT and PIST performed three training sessions per week for 9 weeks on a cycle ergometer, matched for total high-intensity time, while CTRL continued normal sedentary behaviours. Pre- and post-intervention testing involved measures of anthropometry, peak oxygen consumption (VO 2peak ), and venous blood collection for analyses of CRP and TNF-α. Results HIIT and PIST increased VO 2peak compared to CTRL (+3.66 ± 2.23 and 3.74 ± 2.62 mL kg min −1 ). A group × time interaction ( p  = 0.042) and main effect of time ( p  = 0.026) were evident for waist girth, with only HIIT showing a significant reduction compared to CTRL (−2.1 ± 2.8 cm). TNF-α and CRP showed no group × time interaction or time effect ( p  > 0.05). Conclusions In sedentary individuals, 9 weeks of HIIT or PIST were effective to improve aerobic capacity; however, only HIIT significantly reduced waist girth and WHR compared to CTRL. Markers of systemic inflammation remained unchanged across all groups. Accordingly, for inflammation and VO2 peak , the distribution of sprints and the active or passive recovery periods are inconsequential provided that total duration of high-intensity efforts is similar.