Effects of low-volume HIIT and MICT training in adults with insulin resistance: a systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v73.117280Keywords:
High-Intensity interval training , insulin resistance, diabetes, glycemic control, low-volume exerciseAbstract
Introduction: Physical exercise is a key component in the management of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT) has been proposed as a time-efficient alternative to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), which is widely recommended in international guidelines.
Objective: To synthesize the evidence from randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of LV-HIIT and MICT on glycemic parameters and insulin sensitivity in adults with metabolic disorders.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar (2015–2024). Randomized controlled trials comparing LV-HIIT (≤30 minutes total, 85–95% HRmax or VO₂max) versus MICT (≥30 minutes, 55–70% HRmax) in adults ≥50 years were included. Primary outcomes were fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), HOMA-IR, and insulin sensitivity.
Results: Eight studies (n=270) were included. Both protocols improved FPG, HbA1c, FPI, and HOMA-IR, with greater absolute reductions observed in LV-HIIT, although no consistent statistically significant differences were found between groups. Insulin sensitivity improved significantly with LV-HIIT in some studies that applied direct measurement methods.
Conclusion: LV-HIIT is an effective and time-efficient strategy to improve insulin sensitivity, inducing rapid metabolic adaptations with comparable or superior outcomes to MICT.
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