Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in fat oxidation in response to various regimes of high intensity interval training (HIIT)

European Journal of Applied Physiology volume 118, pages 51–63 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Increased whole-body fat oxidation (FOx) has been consistently demonstrated in response to moderate intensity continuous exercise training. Completion of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and its more intense form, sprint interval training (SIT), has also been reported to increase FOx in different populations. An explanation for this increase in FOx is primarily peripheral adaptations via improvements in mitochondrial content and function. However, studies examining changes in FOx are less common in response to HIIT or SIT than those determining increases in maximal oxygen uptake which is concerning, considering that FOx has been identified as a predictor of weight gain and glycemic control. In this review, we explored physiological and methodological issues underpinning existing literature concerning changes in FOx in response to HIIT and SIT. Our results show that completion of interval training increases FOx in approximately 50% of studies, with the frequency of increased FOx higher in response to studies using HIIT compared to SIT. Significant increases in β-HAD, citrate synthase, fatty acid binding protein, or FAT/CD36 are likely responsible for the greater FOx seen in these studies. We encourage scientists to adopt strict methodological procedures to attenuate day-to-day variability in FOx, which is dramatic, and develop standardized procedures for assessing FOx, which may improve detection of changes in FOx in response to HIIT.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1

Abbreviations

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

β-HAD:

β-Hydroxyacyl acyl-CoA dehydrogenase

CHOOx:

Carbohydrate oxidation

CS:

Citrate synthase

EPOC:

Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption

FFA:

Free fatty acid

FOx:

Fat oxidation

HRmax :

Maximal heart rate

HIIT:

High intensity interval training

MFO:

Maximal fat oxidation

MICT:

Moderate intensity continuous training

RER:

Respiratory exchange ratio

RQ:

Respiratory quotient

SIT:

Sprint interval training

VO2max :

Maximal oxygen uptake

References

  • Achten J, Gleeson M, Jeukendrup AE (2002) Determination of the exercise intensity that elicits maximal fat oxidation. Med Sci Sports Exerc 34(1):92–97

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Achten J, Venables MC, Jeukendrup AE (2003) Fat oxidation rates are higher during running compared with cycling over a wide range of intensities. Metabolism 52(6):747–752

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alkahtani SA, King NA, Hills AP, Byrne NM (2013) Effect of interval training intensity on fat oxidation, blood lactate and the rate of perceived exertion in obese men. Springerplus 2:532

  • Allemeier CA, Fry AC, Johnson P, Hikida RS, Hagerman FC, Staron RC (1994) Effects of sprint cycle training on human skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol 77:2385–2390

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arad AD, DiMenna FJ, Thomas N, Tamis-Holland J, Weil R, Geliebter A, Albu JB (2015) High-intensity interval training without weight loss improves exercise but not basal or insulin-induced metabolism in overweight/obese African American women. J Appl Physiol 119(4):352–362

  • Archer E, Hand GA, Blair SN (2013) Validity of U.S. nutritional surveillance: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey caloric energy intake data, 1971–2010. PLoS One 8(10):e76632

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Aslankeser Z, Balci S (2017) Substrate oxidation during incremental exercise in young women: the effects of 2-week high intensity interval training. Medicina dello Sport 70(2):137–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Astorino TA, Schubert MM (2014) Individual responses to completion of short-term and chronic interval training: a retrospective study. PLoS One 9(5):e97638

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Astorino TA, Allen RP, Roberson DW, Jurancich M, Lewis R, McCarthy K, Trost E (2011) Adaptations to high-intensity training are independent of gender. Eur J Appl Physiol 111(7):1279–1286

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Astorino TA, Schubert MM, Palumbo E, Stirling D, McMillan DW (2013) Effect of two doses of interval training on maximal fat oxidation in sedentary women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 45(12):1878–1886

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Astorino TA, Edmunds RM, Clark A, Gallant R, King L, Ordille GM, Heath B, Montell M, Bandong J (2017) Change in maximal fat oxidation in response to different regimes of periodized high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Eur J Appl Physiol 117(4):745–755

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bacon AP, Carter RE, Ogle EA, Joyner MJ (2013) VO2max trainability and high intensity interval training in humans: a meta-analysis. PLoS One 8(9):e73182

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bagley L, Slevin M, Bradburn S, Liu D, Murgatroyd C, Morrissey G, Carroll M, Piasecki M, Gilmore WS, McPhee JS (2016) Sex differences in the effects of 12 weeks sprint interval training on body fat mass and the rates of fatty acid oxidation and VO2max during exercise. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2(1):e000056

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bell M, Wang H, Chen H, McLenithan JC, Gong DW, Yang RZ, Yu D, Fried SK, Quon MJ, Londos C, Sztalryd C (2008) Consequences of lipid droplet coat protein downregulation in liver cells: abnormal lipid droplet metabolism and induction of insulin resistance. Diabetes 57:2037–2045

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Billat VL, Flechet B, Petit B, Muriaux G, Koralsztein JP (1999) Interval training at VO2max: effects on aerobic performance and overtraining markers. Med Sci Sports Exerc 31(1):156–163

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonen A, Luiken JJ, Glatz JF (2002) Regulation of fatty acid transport and membrane transporters in health and disease. Mol Cell Biochem 239(1–2):281–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Bordenave S, Flavier S, Fedou C, Brun JF, Mercier J (2007) Exercise calorimetry in sedentary patients: procedures based on short 3 min steps underestimate carbohydrate oxidation and overestimate lipid oxidation. Diabetes Metab 33:379–384

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchard C, An P, Rice T, Skinner JS, Wilmore JH, Gagnon J, Pérusse L, Leon AS, Rao DC (1999) Familiar aggregation of VO2max response to exercise training: results from the HERITAGE Family Study. J Appl Physiol 87:1003–1008

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks GA, Mercier J (1994) Balance of carbohydrate and lipid utilization during exercise: the “crossover” concept. J Appl Physiol 76(6):2253–2261

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burgomaster KA, Heigenhauser GJ, Gibala MJ (2006) Effect of short-term sprint interval training on human skeletal muscle carbohydrate metabolism during exercise and time-trial performance. J Appl Physiol 100(6):2041–2047

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burgomaster KA, Cermak NM, Phillips SM, Benton CR, Bonen A, Gibala MJ (2007) Divergent response of metabolite transport proteins in human skeletal muscle after sprint interval training and detraining. Am J Physiol 292(5):R1970–R1976

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burgomaster KA, Howarth KR, Phillips SM, Rakobowchuk M, Macdonald MJ, McGee SL, Gibala MJ (2008) Similar metabolic adaptations during exercise after low volume sprint interval and traditional endurance training in humans. J Physiol 586(1):151–160

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control (2016) Facts about physical activity. Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

  • Chan HH, Burns SF (2013) Oxygen consumption, substrate oxidation, and blood pressure following sprint interval exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 38(2):182–187

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chenevière X, Malatesta D, Peters EM, Borrani F (2009) A mathematical model to describe fat oxidation kinetics during graded exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41(8):1615–1625

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cochran AJ, Percival ME, Tricarico S, Little JP, Cermak N, Gillen JB, Tarnopolsky MA, Gibala MJ (2014) Intermittent and continuous high-intensity exercise training induce similar acute but different chronic muscle adaptations. Exp Physiol 99(5):782–791

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Compher C, Frankenfield D, Keim N, Roth-Yousey L, Evidence Analysis Working Group (2006) Best practice methods to apply to measurement of resting metabolic rate in adults: a systematic review. J Am Diet Assoc 106:881–903

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cornelissen VA, Goetschalckx K, Verheyden B, Aubert AE, Arnout J, Persu A, Rademakers F, Fagard RH (2011) Effect of endurance training on blood pressure regulation, biomarkers and the heart in subjects at a higher age. Scand J Med Sci Sports 21(4):526–534

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Croci I, Borrani F, Byrne N, Wood R, Hickman I, Cheneviere X, Malatesta D (2014) Reproducibility of Fatmax and fat oxidation rates during exercise in recreationally trained males. PLoS One 9(6):e97930

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • De Souza Silveira R, Carlsohn A, Langen G, Mayer F, Scharhag-Rosenberger F (2016) Reliability and day-to-day variability of peak fat oxidation during treadmill ergometry. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 13:4

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Donnelly JE, Hill JO, Jacobsen DJ, Potteiger J, Sullivan DK, Johnson SL, Heelan K, Hise M, Fennessey PV, Sonko B, Sharp T, Jakicic JM, Blair SN, Tran ZV, Mayo M, Gibson C, Washburn RA (2003) Effects of a 16-month randomized controlled exercise trial on body weight and composition in young, overweight men and women: the Midwest Exercise Trial. Ann Int Med 166(3):1343–1350

    Google Scholar 

  • Duscha BD, Slentz CA, Johnson JL, Houmard JA, Bensimhon DR, Knetzger KJ, Kraus WE (2005) Effects of exercise training amount and intensity on peak oxygen consumption in middle-age men and women at risk for cardiovascular disease. Chest 128(4):2788–2793

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher G, Eves FF, Glover EI, Robinson SL, Vernooij CA, Thompson JL, Wallis GA (2017) Dietary intake is independently associated with the maximal capacity for fat oxidation during exercise. Am J Clin Nutr 105(4):864–872

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Frayn KN (1983) Calculation of substrate oxidation rates in vivo from gaseous exchange. J Appl Physiol 55:628–634

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fullmer S, Benson-Davies S, Earthman CP, Frankenfield DC, Gradwell E, Lee PSP, Piemonte T, Trabulsi J (2015) Evidence Analysis Library review of best practices for performing indirect calorimetry in health and non-critically ill individuals. J Acad Nutr Diet 115:1417–1446

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gahreman D, Heydari M, Boutcher Y, Freund J, Boutcher S (2016) The effect of green tea ingestion and interval sprinting exercise on the body composition of overweight males: a randomized trial. Nutrients 8(8):e510

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gibala MJ, McGee SL (2008) Metabolic adaptations to short-term high-intensity interval training: a little pain for a lot of gain? Exerc Sports Sci Rev 36(2):58–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillen JB, Percival ME, Skelly LE, Martin BJ, Tan RB, Tarnopolsky MA, Gibala MJ (2014) Three minutes of all-out intermittent exercise per week increases skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and improves cardiometabolic health. PLoS One 9(11):e111489

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Goedecke JH, St. Clair Gibson A, Grobler L, Collins M, Noakes TD, Lambert EV (2000) Determinants of the variability in respiratory exchange ratio at rest and during exercise in trained athletes. Am J Physiol 279(6):E1325–E1334

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gore CJ, Withers RT (1990) Effect of exercise intensity and duration on postexercise metabolism. J Appl Physiol 68(6):2362–2368

  • Gorostiaga EM, Walter CB, Foster C, Hickson RC (1991) Uniqueness of interval and continuous training at the same maintained exercise intensity. Eur J Appl Physiol 63(2):101–107

  • Greer BK, Sirithienthad P, Moffatt RJ, Marcello RT, Panton LB (2015) EPOC comparison between isocaloric bouts of steady-state aerobic, intermittent aerobic, and resistance training. Res Q Exerc Sport 86(2):190–195

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guadalupe-Grau A, Fernández-Elías VE, Ortega JF, Dela F, Helge JW, Mora-Rodriguez R (2017). Effects of 6-month aerobic interval training on skeletal muscle metabolism in middle-aged metabolic syndrome patients. Scand J Med Sci Sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12881

  • Gurd BJ, Giles MD, Bonafiglia JT, Raleigh JP, Boyd JC, Ma JK, Zelt JG, Scribbans TD (2016) Incidence of non-response and individual patterns of response following sprint interval training. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 41(3):229–234

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holloszy JO, Coyle EF (1984) Adaptations of skeletal muscle to endurance exercise and their metabolic consequences. J Appl Physiol 56(4):831–838

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Houmard J, Shinebarger MH, Dolan PL, Leggett-Frazier N, Bruner RK, McCammon MR, Israel RG, Dohm GL (1993) Exercise training increases GLUT-4 protein concentration in previously sedentary middle-aged men. Am J Physiol 264(6:1):e896–e901

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hurley BF, Nemeth PM, Martin WH III, Hagberg JM, Dalsky GP, Holloszy JO (1986) Muscle triglyceride utilization during exercise: effect of training. J Appl Physiol 60:562–567

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Islam H, Townsend LK, Hazell TJ (2017) Modified sprint interval training protocols. Part I. Physiological responses. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 42(4):339–346

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jeacocke NA, Burke LM (2010) Methods to standardize dietary intake before performance testing. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 20:87–103

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jeukendrup AE, Wallis GA (2005) Measurement of substrate oxidation during exercise by means of gas exchange measurement. Int J Sports Med 26(1):S28–S37

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley DE, Simoneau JA (1994) Impaired free fatty acid utilization by skeletal muscle in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Invest 94:2349–2356

  • King L, Sillers W, McCartney K, Louis P, Astorino TA (2016) Higher fat oxidation during treadmill walking versus cycle ergometry in active women at equal RPE: a pilot study. J Sports Med Phys Fit 56(11):1298–1303

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kohn TA, Essén-Gustavsson B, Myburgh KH (2011) Specific muscle adaptations in type II fibers after high-intensity interval training of well-trained runners. Scand J Med Sci Sports 21(6):765–772

  • Laforgia J, Withers RT, Shipp NJ, Gore CJ (1997) Comparison of energy expenditure elevations after submaximal and supramaximal running. J Appl Physiol 82(2):661–666

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lanzi S, Codecasa F, Cornacchia M, Maestrini S, Capodaglio P, Brunani A, Fanari P, Salvadori A, Malatesta D (2015) Short-term HIIT and Fat max training increase aerobic and metabolic fitness in men with class II and III obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring) 23(10):1987–1994

  • Larsen S, Danielsen JH, Søndergård SD, Søgaard D, Vigelsoe A, Dybboe R, Skaaby S, Dela F, Helge JW (2015) The effect of high-intensity training on mitochondrial fat oxidation in skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Scand J Med Sci Sports 25(1):e59–e69

  • Lazzer S, Tringali G, Caccavale M, De Micheli R, Abbruzzese L, Sartorio A (2017) Effects of high-intensity interval training on physical capacities and substrate oxidation rate in obese adolescents. J Endocrinol Investig 40(2):217–226

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacInnis MJ, Gibala MJ (2017) Physiological adaptations to interval training and the role of exercise intensity. J Physiol 595(9):2915–2930

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martins C, Kazakova I, Ludviksen M, Mehus I, Wisloff U, Kulseng B, Morgan L, King N (2016) High-intensity interval training and isocaloric moderate-intensity continuous training result in similar improvements in body composition and fitness in obese individuals. Int J Sports Nutr Exerc Metab 26(3):197–204

  • McGarry JD, Brown NF (1997) The mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase system: from concept to molecular analysis. Eur J Biochem 224:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • McGarvey W, Jones R, Petersen S (2005) Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption following continuous and interval cycling exercise. Int J Sports Nutr Exerc Metab 15(1):28–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Michallet AS, Tonini J, Regnier J, Guinot M, Favre-Juvin A, Bricout V, Halimi S, Wuyam B, Flore P (2008) Methodological aspects of crossover and maximum fat-oxidation rate point determination. Diabetes Metab 34:514–523

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Midgley AW, McNaughton L, Carroll S (2007) Effect of the VO2 time-averaging interval on the reproducibility of VO2max in healthy athletic subjects. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 27(2):122–125

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Milanović Z, Sporiš G, Weston M (2015) Effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIT) and continuous endurance training for VO2max improvements: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. Sports Med 45(10):1469–1481

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) (2002) Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) final report. Circulation 106(25):3143–3421

    Google Scholar 

  • Nybo L, Sundstrup E, Jakobsen MD et al (2010) High-intensity training versus traditional exercise interventions for promoting health. Med Sci Sports Exerc 42(10):1951–1958

  • Parra J, Cadefau JA, Rodas G, Amigo N, Cusso R (2000) The distribution of rest periods affects performance and adaptations of energy metabolism induced by high-intensity interval training in human muscle. Acta Physiol Scand 169:157–165

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson R, Potteiger JA (2011) A comparison of normal versus low dietary carbohydrate intake on substrate oxidation during and after moderate intensity exercise in women. Eur J Appl Physiol 111:3143–3150

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perez-Martin A, Dumortier M, Raynaud E, Brun JF, Fedou C, Bringer J, Mercier J (2001) Balance of substrate oxidation during sub-maximal exercise in lean and obese people. Diabetes Metab 27:466–474

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perry CGR, Heigenhauser GJF, Bonen A et al (2008) High-intensity aerobic interval training increased fat and carbohydrate metabolic capacities in human skeletal muscle. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 33:1112–1123

  • Phillips BE, Kelly BM, Lilja M, Ponce-González JG, Brogan RJ, Morris DL, Gustafsson T, Kraus WE, Atherton PJ, Vollaard NBJ, Rooyackers O, Timmons JA (2017) A practical and time-efficient high-intensity interval training program modifies cardio-metabolic risk factors in adults with risk factors for type ii diabetes. Front Endocrinol 8:229

    Google Scholar 

  • Piaggi P, Thearle MS, Bogardus C, Krakoff J (2013) Lower energy expenditure predicts long-term increases in weight and fat mass. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 98:E703–E707

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Piaggi P, Thearle MS, Krakoff J, Votruba SB (2015) Higher daily energy expenditure and respiratory quotient, rather than fat-free mass, independently determine greater ad libitum overeating. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100:3011–3020

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson SL, Hattersley J, Frost GS et al (2015) Maximal fat oxidation during exercise is positively associated with 24-hour fat oxidation and insulin sensitivity in young, healthy men. J Appl Physiol 118(11):1115–1122

  • Saris WHM, Schrauwen P (2004) Substrate oxidation differences between high- and low-intensity exercise are compensated over 24 h in obese men. Int J Obes 28:759–765

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scalzo RL, Peltonen GL, Binns SE, Shankaran M, Giordano GR, Hartley DA, Klochak AL, Lonac MC, Paris HL, Szallar SE, Wood LM, Peelor FF 3rd, Holmes WE, Hellerstein MK, Bell C, Hamilton KL, Miller BF (2014) Greater muscle protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis in males compared with females during sprint interval training. FASEB J 28(6):2705–2714

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schubert MM, Clarke HE, Seay RF, Spain KK (2017) Impact of 4 weeks of interval training on resting metabolic rate, fitness, and health-related outcomes. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 42(10):1073–1081

  • Schuenke MD, Mikat RP, McBride JM (2002) Effect of an acute period of resistance exercise on excess post-exercise oxygen consumption: implications for body mass management. Eur J Appl Physiol 86(5):411–417

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd SO, Cocks M, Tipton KD, Ranasinghe AM, Barker TA, Burniston JG, Wagenmakers AJ, Shaw CS (2013) Sprint interval and traditional endurance training increase net intramuscular triglyceride breakdown and expression of perilipin 2 and 5. J Physiol 591(3):657–675

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd SO, Cocks M, Meikle PJ, Mellett NA, Ranasinghe AM, Barker TA, Wagenmakers AJM, Shaw CS (2017) Lipid droplet remodelling and reduced muscle ceramides following sprint interval and moderate-intensity continuous exercise training in obese males. Int J Obes. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.170

  • Shook RP, Hand GA, Paluch AE, Wang X, Moran R, Hebert JR, Jakicic JM, Blair SN (2015) High respiratory quotient is associated with increases in body weight and fat mass in young adults. Eur J Clin Nutr 70(10):1197–1202

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skelly LE, Andrews PC, Gillen JB, Martin BJ, Percival ME, Gibala MJ (2014) High-intensity interval exercise induces 24-h energy expenditure similar to traditional exercise despite reduced time commitment. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 39:845–848

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skelly LE, Gillen JB, MacInnis MJ, Martin BJ, Safdar A, Akhtar M, MacDonald MJ, Tarnopolsky MA, Gibala MJ (2017) Effect of sex on the acute skeletal muscle response to sprint interval exercise. Exp Physiol 102(3):354–365

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sloth M, Sloth D, Overgaard K, Dalgas U (2013) Effects of sprint interval training on VO2max and aerobic exercise performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports 23(6):e341–e352

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spriet LL (2002) Regulation of skeletal muscle fat oxidation during exercise in humans. Med Sci Sports Exerc 34(9):1477–1484

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Støa EM, Meling S, Nyhus LK, Glenn Strømstad, Mangerud KM, Helgerud J, Bratland-Sanda S, Støren Ø (2017) High-intensity aerobic interval training improves aerobic fitness and HbA1c among persons diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Eur J Appl Physiol 117(3):455–467

  • Storlien L, Oakes ND, Kelley DE (2004) Metabolic flexibility. Proc Nutr Soc 63:363–368

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Straczkowski M, Kowalska I, Baranowski M, Nikolajuk A, Otziomek E, Zabielski P, Adamska A, Blachnio A, Gorski J, Gorska M (2007) Increased skeletal muscle ceramide level in men at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia 50(11):2366–2373

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Talanian JL, Galloway SD, Heigenhauser GJF, Bonen A, Spriet LL (2007) Two weeks of high-intensity aerobic interval training increase the capacity for fat oxidation during exercise in women. J Appl Physiol 102:1439–1447

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Talanian JL, Holloway GP, Snook LA, Heigenhauser GJF, Bonen A, Spriet LL (2010) Exercise training increases sarcolemmal and mitochondrial fatty acid transport proteins in human skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol 299:E180–E188

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay A, Simoneau JA, Bouchard C (1994) Impact of exercise intensity on body fatness and skeletal muscle metabolism. Metabolism 43(7):814–818

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker WJ, Angadi SS, Gaesser GA (2016) Excess postexercise oxygen consumption after high-intensity and sprint interval exercise, and continuous steady-state exercise. J Strength Cond Res 30(11):3090–3097

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Hall G (2015) The physiological regulation of skeletal muscle fatty acid supply and oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise. Sports Med 45(S1):s23–s32

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Venables MC, Achten J, Jeukendrup AE (2005) Determinants of fat oxidation during exercise in healthy men and women: a cross-sectional study. J Appl Physiol 98:160–167

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent G, Lamon S, Gant N, Vincent PJ, MacDonald JR, Markworth JF, Edge JA, Hickey AJ (2015) Changes in mitochondrial function and mitochondria associated protein expression in response to 2-weeks of high intensity interval training. Front Physiol 6:51

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Vollaard NBJ, Metcalfe RS, Williams S (2017) Effect of number of sprints in an SIT session on change in VO2max: a meta-analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 49(6):1147–1156

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weston KS, Wisløff U, Coombes JS (2014a) High-intensity interval training in patients with lifestyle-induced cardiometabolic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med 48(16):1227–1235

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weston M, Taylor KL, Batterham AM, Hopkins WG (2014b) Effects of low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIT) on fitness in adults: a meta-analysis of controlled and non-controlled trials. Sports Med 44(7):1005–1017

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Whyte LJ, Gill JM, Cathcart AJ (2010) Effect of 2 weeks of sprint interval training on health-related outcomes in sedentary overweight/obese men. Metabolism 59(10):1421–1428

  • Williams CB, Zelt JG, Castellani LN, Little JP, Jung ME, Wright DC, Tschakovsky ME, Gurd BJ (2013) Changes in mechanisms proposed to mediate fat loss following an acute bout of high-intensity interval and endurance exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 38(12):1236–1244

  • Zinner C, Morales-Alamo D, Ørtenblad N, Larsen FJ, Schiffer TA, Willis SJ, Gelabert-Rebato M, Perez-Valera M, Boushel R, Calbet JA, Holmberg HC (2016) The physiological mechanisms of performance enhancement with sprint interval training differ between the upper and lower extremities in humans. Front Physiol 30(7):426

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank over 20 undergraduate and graduate students for their assistance in collecting data during our prior training studies as well as the Editor-in-Chief for so graciously extending the offer to the authors to construct this review.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, California State University, San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road, UNIV 320, San Marcos, CA, 92096-0001, USA

    Todd Anthony Astorino & Matthew M. Schubert

Authors
  1. Todd Anthony Astorino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Matthew M. Schubert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Todd Anthony Astorino.

Additional information

Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Astorino, T.A., Schubert, M.M. Changes in fat oxidation in response to various regimes of high intensity interval training (HIIT). Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 51–63 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3756-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3756-0

Keywords

search

Navigation