Aerobic Interval Training Versus Continuous Moderate Exercise as a Treatment for the Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Background-Individuals with the metabolic syndrome are 3 times more likely to die of heart disease than healthy counterparts. Exercise training reduces several of the symptoms of the syndrome, but the exercise intensity that yields the maximal beneficial adaptations is in dispute. We compared moderate and high exercise intensity with regard to variables associated with cardiovascular function and prognosis in patients with the metabolic syndrome. Methods and Results-Thirty-two metabolic syndrome patients (age, 52.3Ϯ3.7 years; maximal oxygen uptake [V O 2 max], 34 mL · kg Ϫ1 · min

Exercise-training-induced changes in metabolic capacity with age: the role of central cardiovascular plasticity

“…Of note, in the current study both young and old subjects underwent supervised exercise training at the same relative intensity (90-95 % of HR max ) and this was equally attainable by both groups. The efficacy of this high aerobic intensity exercise training has previously been documented in both healthy subjects Osteras et al 2005) and various patient populations (Tjonna et al 2008;Wisloff et al 2007). However, this study is the first to apply this exercise training paradigm to the question of how VO 2max and central cardiovascular plasticity is affected by age.…”

“…1 and Table 2). Previously, this high aerobic intensity exercise training approach has revealed consistent and relatively impressive training adaptations across age in healthy individuals Osteras et al 2005) and in a range of patient populations (Slordahl et al 2005;Tjonna et al 2008;Wisloff et al 2007). However, both training status and variations in basal metabolic capacity can confound comparisons of exercise-induced changes across such groups.…”

Impact of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs in coronary heart disease

“…55 In cohort studies of individuals with metabolic syndrome, HIIT improved fat oxidation and fasting glucose levels, as well as VO2. 56,57 Interestingly, a randomized prospective trial of 200 CHD patients in Belgium comparing HIIT and moderate intensity continuous training protocols showed no significant differences in improvements in peak VO2, endothelial function, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) between the two training groups, although the trends were higher in the HIIT group. One possible explanation for this deviation from previously documented benefits is that average peak HR was relatively high in the MICT group compared with prior trials (80% of predicted).…”

Exercise intensity and insulin sensitivity: how low can you go?

“…Other data, however, suggest that when matched for total work or energy expenditure, intermittent high-intensity aerobic interval training is superior to less intense exercise in inducing improvements in clinical outcomes and muscle metabolic markers. Tjønna et al [32] studied patients with the metabolic syndrome (agẽ 52 years, BMI~30 kg/m 2 ) who either performed a 16 week exercise programme consisting of continuous moderate-intensity exercise or aerobic interval training, or were assigned to a control group. Participants who performed the interval training warmed up for 10 min at 70% of HR max , before undertaking four 4 min work bouts at 90% of HR max with a 3 min active recovery at 70% of HR max , followed by a 5 min cool-down period (a total exercise time of 40 min).…”