High‐intensity interval exercise versus moderate‐intensity continuous exercise on postprandial glucose and insulin responses: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Summary We performed a meta‐analysis to investigate the effects of high‐intensity interval exercise (HIIE) as compared to moderate‐intensity exercise (MIE) and a control condition (CON) on postprandial glucose (PPG) and insulin (PPI) responses. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were comprehensively searched to identify relevant studies until October 2021. Separate analyses were conducted for HIIE versus MIE and HIIE versus CON. A total of 30 studies comprising 36 intervention arms and involving 467 participants (350 adults) were included in the meta‐analysis. HIIE reduced PPG and PPI when compared with CON. Based on subgroup analyses, reductions in PPG and PPI were significant for both children and adult participants, as well as for healthy participants and participants with metabolic disorders, with larger effects in those with metabolic disorders. There were no significant differences between HIIE and MIE for PPG or PPI. However, when comparing studies matched for total work performed, HIIE was more effective for decreasing PPG as compared with MIE. HIIE is effective for reducing PPG and PPI in both children and adult participants, particularly in those with metabolic disorders. In addition, HIIE has superior effects for reducing PPG as compared with MIE, when equivalent work was performed at both intensity levels.

Metabolic responses to acute sprint interval exercise training performed after an oral 75‐gram glucose load in individuals with overweight/obesity

“…In the last decades the consumption of sugars in food and beverages has risen alarmingly and this is known to be associated with increased risk factors for CVD including dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, or non‐alcoholic fatty liver diseases (Stanhope, 2016 ). Thus, effective strategies such as SIT should be promoted in healthy adults with overweight/obesity to improve metabolic responses to postprandial glucose (Khalafi et al, 2022 ; Solomon et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Exercise may have added benefits if it is appropriately timed to the postprandial period (Erickson et al, 2017 ). For example, post‐meal exercise has been shown to trigger acute reductions in PPG (Derave et al, 2007 ; Khalafi et al, 2022 ). The effect of a single session of continuous aerobic training, such as walking and cycling, on fat (lipid) metabolism has also been investigated (Ho et al, 2011 ; Kolifa et al, 2004 ), yet most of the studies have been restricted to healthy, physical inactive, and/or normal‐weight individuals.…”

“…Regardless of the SIT protocol used, several studies have associated this type of exercise with a range of health benefits including large improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, metabolic function, and body composition outcomes (Keating et al, 2017 ; Rosenblat et al, 2020 ). The effects of SIT on postprandial hyperinsulinemia have recently been meta‐analyzed by Khalafi et al, with the authors reporting mixed results (Khalafi et al, 2022 ). Acute SIT can reduce glucose and insulin levels in postprandial states in healthy participants (Au et al, 2021 ; Ferreira et al, 2011 ), in people with overweight and obesity (Little et al, 2014 ; Sargeant et al, 2021 ), and in patients with metabolic disorders (Freese et al, 2015 ; Metcalfe et al, 2018 ).…”

The impact of high-intensity interval training on vascular function in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…High-intensity interval training has been considered a time-efficient mode of exercise training for several physiological adaptations such as inflammation, glycemia, fat loss and weight management, with superior or similar effects, yet less overall total exercise time ( 13 , 17 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 90 ). The second part of the current meta-analysis investigated the effect of HIIT vs. MICT showing superior effects for HIIT on FMD by 1.59%.…”

“…Emerging evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses demonstrate beneficial effects of HIIT on cardiometabolic risk factors ( 30 ). As such, HIIT improves body composition ( 31 ), visceral ( 17 ), and liver ( 32 ) fat mass, some inflammatory markers ( 13 ), glycemic markers ( 33 – 35 ), and several chronic pain conditions ( 36 ). In addition, HIIT may be an effective approach to improve vascular function.…”