A Shorter-Bout of HIIT Is More Effective to Promote Serum BDNF and VEGF-A Levels and Improve Cognitive Function in Healthy Young Men

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of single bouts of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with different duration on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) levels and cognitive function in healthy young men.Methods: Twelve healthy young men were participated in two HIIT treatments (20 min HIIT and 30 min HIIT) in a random order. BDNF, VEGF-A, cortisol, testosterone, blood lactic acid were measured and cognitive function was assessed by Stroop test (CWST) and Digital Span test (DST) before, immediately after, and 30 min after HIIT.Results: 20 and 30 min HIIT increased BLa (both p < 0.01), cortisol (20 min HIIT: p < 0.05; 30 min HIIT: p < 0.01), and testosterone (both p < 0.05) levels immediately when compared with their baselines. While BLa and cortisol were significantly higher in 30 min HIIT group than in 20 min HIIT group. Moreover, BDNF concentration (p < 0.01), DST-F (p < 0.01) and DST-B (p < 0.05) were increased and response time of Stroop was decreased immediately after HIIT only in 20 min HIIT group. VEGF-A concentration was increased immediately after HIIT in both groups (p < 0.01), but after 30 min recovery, it was returned to the baseline in the 20 min HIIT group and was lower than the baseline in 30 min HIIT group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Twenty minutes HIIT is more effective than 30 minutes HIIT for promoting serum levels of BDNF and VEGF-A as well as cognitive function in healthy young men.

Effects of acute and chronic high-intensity interval training on serum irisin, BDNF and apelin levels in male soccer referees

“…Saucedo Marquez et al [28] applied two exercise protocols, (Continuous exercise: 70% of maximal work rate and a high-intensity interval-training; 90% of maximal work rate for 1 minute alternating with 1 minute of rest; both protocols lasted for 20 minutes) and reported greater BDNF release in HIIT group. Li et al [29] depicted that 20 minutes of HIIT was more effective than 30 minutes to improve cognitive functions. The effects of exercise on BDNF release improved the cognitive functions.…”

Measuring the Immediate Effects of High-Intensity Functional Training on Motor, Cognitive and Physiological Parameters in Well-Trained Adults

“…The authors collected data from 44 recreationally active university students and found that the exercise program positively impacted cognitive function, whereas the improvement in reaction times and the decrement in physical performance were not significant. A single bout of HIIT was also demonstrated to lead to an improvement in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor of healthy young men [9]. However, the immediate effects of HIIT are often contradictory, especially in sports [10].…”