Effect of eight weeks High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on some atherogenic factors

Atherosclerosis is the most important reason for disability and mortality in Iran and around the world, which is mainly due to improper and sedentary lifestyle. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of eight weeks high Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on some atherogenic factors.

Subjects were obese young females who were divided into experimental (n=8) and control (n=8) groups. In the experimental group, HIIT training were done for eight weeks (three sessions per week) with the intensity of 90%-95% of maximum heart rate. Blood sampling was performed before and after training in both groups. ELISA method was used to evaluate dependent variables. Data were analyzed using t-test at the level of p≤0.05.

In the experimental group, weight values (p=0.01), BMI (p=0.01), fibrinogen (p<0.001), homocysteine (p=0.011), and LPA (p=0.002) had a significant reduction, but apelin decreased (p=0.959) and omentin increased (p=0.537) insignificantly. Only fibrinogen changes were significant between the two groups (p<0.001). There was no change in the control group.

Eight weeks of HIIT is effective in the reduction of weight and improving the levels of fibrinogen, homocysteine, and LPA in obese young females. Therefore, HIIT training can be used as short-time exercises in these people to prevent a heart stroke.