High-intensity interval training improves insulin sensitivity in older individuals.
Abstract
AIM: Metabolic health may deteriorate with age as a result of altered body composition and decreased physical activity. Endurance exercise is known to counter these changes delaying or even preventing onset of metabolic diseases. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time efficient alternative to regular endurance exercise, and the aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic benefit of HIIT in older subjects. METHODS: Twenty-two sedentary male (n = 11) and female (n = 11) subjects aged 63 ± 1 years performed HIIT training three times/week for 6 weeks on a bicycle ergometer. Each HIIT session consisted of five 1-minute intervals interspersed with 1½-minute rest. Prior to the first and after the last HIIT session whole-body insulin sensitivity, measured by a hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp, plasma lipid levels, HbA1c, glycaemic parameters, body composition and maximal oxygen uptake were assessed. Muscle biopsies were obtained wherefrom content of glycogen and proteins involved in muscle glucose handling were determined. RESULTS: Insulin sensitivity (P = .011) and maximal oxygen uptake increased (P < .05) in both genders, while plasma cholesterol (P < .05), low-density lipoprotein (P < .05), visceral fat mass (P < .05) and per cent body fat (P < .05) decreased after 6 weeks of HIIT. HbA1c decreased only in males (P = .001). Muscle glycogen content increased in both genders (P = .001) and in line GLUT4 (P < .05), glycogen synthase (P = .001) and hexokinase II (P < .05) content all increased. CONCLUSION: Six weeks of HIIT significantly improves metabolic health in older males and females by reducing age-related risk factors for cardiometabolic disease.
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Regarding ability to reduce visceral adipose tissue, HbA1c, and fasting glucose, HIIT and SIT seem to have effects at least similar to MICT in both healthy and diabetic subjects.
“Regarding the ability of the different exercise regimens to reduce visceral adipose tissue (VAT), HbA1c, and fasting glucose, HIIT and SIT seem to have effects that are at least similar to those of MICT in both healthy and diabetic subjects (Burgomaster et al., 2008; Fealy et al., 2018; Søgaard et al., 2018; Winding et al., 2018; Sabag et al., 2020).”
From Effect of Exercise Training on Fat Loss—Energetic Perspectives and the Role of Improved Adipose Tissue Function and Body Fat Distribution (2021) · cites this paper as Søgaard et al., 2018
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- Authors
- Søgaard, D., Lund, M. T., Scheuer, C. M., Dehlbæk, M. S., Dideriksen, S. G., Abildskov, C. V., Christensen, K. K., Dohlmann, T. L., Larsen, S., Vigelsø, A. H., Dela, F., & Helge, J. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Søgaard, D.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Acta Physiologica
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-12-19
- Volume
- 222
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- e13009-e13009
- ISSN
- 1748-1708 (ISSN-L)
- 1748-1716
- OpenAlex
- W2773765649
- Cited by
- 98
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 9
- FWCI
- 16.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Acta Physiologica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Novo Nordisk
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Keywords
- high-intensity interval training, insulin sensitivity, older adults, sedentary aging, cardiometabolic health, VO2max, body composition, visceral fat, plasma lipids, HbA1c, muscle glycogen, GLUT4, glycogen synthase, hexokinase 2, exercise training
- MeSH terms
- High-Intensity Interval Training, Blood Glucose, Body Composition, Female, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Male, Middle Aged, Oxygen Consumption
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