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The impact of acute high-intensity interval exercise on biomarkers of cardiovascular health in type 2 diabetes

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Abstract

Purpose

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions improve cardiovascular health, yet the acute effects on circulating and functional biomarkers of cardiovascular function are unclear in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). To explore this, we conducted two investigations to examine the acute response to HIIT in individuals with T2D.

Methods

Study 1 measured blood pressure, endothelial-dependent dilation, circulating measures of endothelial activation, and troponin T, 30 min and 2 h after HIIT (7 × 1-min intervals) in T2D (n = 8) and age-matched normoglycemic controls (CTL; n = 8). Study 2 assessed circulating measures of endothelial activation and troponin T, 30 min, and 24 h after HIIT (10 × 1-min intervals) in ten previously trained T2D men.

Results

In study 1, markers of endothelial function and activation within the first 2 h after HIIT did not differ from baseline between T2D and CTL participants, except at 30 min after HIIT for glucose, which was reduced more in T2D than CTL (by −0.8 ± 1.2 mmol/L, p = 0.04), and VCAM-1, which was reduced more 30 min after HIIT in CTL compared to T2D (by −187 ± 221 ng/mL, p = 0.05). Study 2 saw no significant difference in any circulating markers of endothelial activation and troponin T, 30 min, and 24 h after HIIT in trained T2D males.

Conclusion

Exploratory findings from these two studies suggest that acute HIIT does not substantially alter circulating and functional markers of cardio(vascular) health in individuals with T2D who are unaccustomed (study 1) and accustomed to HIIT (study 2).

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Abbreviations

AUC:

Area under the curve

CTL:

Age-matched normoglycemic control participants

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

ECG:

Electrocardiogram T2D: type 2 diabetes

EMPs:

Endothelial microparticles

E-Selectin:

Endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule 1

FMD:

Flow-mediated dilation

HbA1c:

Glycated hemoglobin

HIIT:

High-intensity interval training

HRmax :

Maximum heart rate

ICAM-1:

Intracellular adhesion molecule 1

MAP:

Mean arterial blood pressure

MMP9:

Matrix metallopeptidase 9

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

SRAUC:

Shear rate area under curve

T2D:

Type 2 diabetes

VCAM-1:

Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1

\(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{ 2 {\text{ peak}}}}\) :

Peak aerobic capacity

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  1. School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada

    Monique E. Francois & Jonathan P. Little

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  1. Monique E. Francois
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  2. Jonathan P. Little
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Correspondence to Jonathan P. Little.

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Communicated by Guido Ferretti.

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Francois, M.E., Little, J.P. The impact of acute high-intensity interval exercise on biomarkers of cardiovascular health in type 2 diabetes. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 1607–1616 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3649-2

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