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Table 2 Characteristics of the studies included in the meta-analysis

From: High intensity interval training exercise-induced physiological changes and their potential influence on metabolic syndrome clinical biomarkers: a meta-analysis

Paper/Country

Participants/ Gender

Duration (Weeks)

Frequency (Days/week)

Exercise training characteristics

Outcome

Alvarez et al. 2018 [44]

(Brazil)

HIIT

DYSHG: 12

CG: 12

Female

16

3

8 to 14 bouts of 30 to 58 s of jogging/running at 90% HRreserve, interspersed with recovery periods at 70% HRreserve that lasted between 120 s and 96 s. The number of bouts and the duration of each interval increased every week, duration of the recovery periods shortened every week.

HIIT improved BG, HDL-C, TG, BP, TC, LDL-C, endurance performance, body composition and in women in the DYSHG group.

Morales Palomo et al. 2017 [45]

(Spain)

HIIT (TRAIN): 23

CG: 26

Mixed

16

3

4 bouts of 4 min of pedalling at 90% of maximal HR interspersed with 3-min active recovery periods at 70% maximal HR.

HIIT reduced BG, SBP, DBP, WC, body weight and BMI. TG levels were not affected by training.

Morales Palomo et al. 2019 [46]

(Spain)

HIIT (4HIIT): 32

CG: 22

Mixed

16

3

4 bouts of 4 min of pedalling at 90% of maximal HR interspersed with 3-min active recovery periods at 70% maximal HR.

HIIT significantly reduced body weight, WC and MAP. BG, HDL-C, TG levels were not changed significantly.

Mora Rodriguez et al. 2017 [47]

(Spain)

HIIT (TRAIN): 23

CG: 23

Mixed

24

3

4 bouts of 4 min of pedalling at 90% of maximal HR interspersed with 3-min active recovery periods at 70% maximal HR.

HIIT resulted in a significant decrease in WC and mean arterial blood pressure. No significant changes in BG, HDL-C and TG levels in HIIT group.

Mora Rodriguez et al. 2018a [48]

(Spain)

HIIT (TRAIN): 18

CG: 16

Mixed

24

3

4 bouts of 4 min of pedalling at 90% of maximal HR interspersed with 3-min active recovery periods at 70% maximal HR.

HIIT resulted in a significant reduction in body weight, percentage of body fat, WC and MAP. HIIT did not elicit changes in TG, BG and HDL-C.

Mora Rodriguez et al. 2018b [49]

(Spain)

HIIT (TRAIN): 23

CG: 22

Mixed

16

3

4 bouts of 4 min of pedalling at 90% of maximal HR interspersed with 3-min active recovery periods at 70% maximal HR.

HIIT resulted in significant decrease in SBP, DBP and WC. No significant changes in TG levels in HIIT group.

Mora Rodríguez et al. 2019 [50]

(Spain)

HIIT (TRAIN): 76

CG: 20

Mixed

16

3

Twenty minutes continuous at 70% of HRmax followed by 4 bouts of 3 min of walking/running at 90% of HRmax interspersed with a 3-min active recovery at 70% of HRmax between intervals.

HIIT resulted in significant decrease in BG, WC and MAP. No significant changes in TG levels in HIIT group.

Sari-Sarraf et al. 2015 [53]

(Iran)

HIIT (HIIT2):11

CG: 11

Male

16

3

HIIT2: 5 bouts of 2 min cycling with 1-min recovery utilizing undulating intensities (80–100% VO2peak).

HIIT resulted in significant decrease in, BG, TG, SBP, DBP and WC. No significant changes in HDL-C levels in HIIT group.

Stensvold et al. 2010 [51]

(Norway)

HIIT (AIT): 11

CG: 11

Mixed

12

5

4 min intervals of walking/running at 90% of HRmax interspersed with 3 min active recovery periods at 70% of HRmax.

HIIT decreased SBP and DBP.

Tjønna et al. 2008 [52]

(Norway)

HIIT (AIT): 11

CG: 11

Mixed

16

4

4 bouts of 4 min of pedalling at 90% of maximal HR interspersed with 3-min active recovery periods at 70% maximal HR.

HIIT resulted in significant decrease in DBP, SBP, and WC. HDL-C significantly increased in HIIT group. No significant changes in TG and BG levels in HIIT group.

  1. BG Blood glucose, BP Blood Pressure, BMI Body Mass Index, CG Control group, DBP Diastolic blood pressure, DYSHG Dyslipidemia and high blood glucose, HBA1c Haemoglobin A1c, HDL-C High-density lipoprotein, HR Heart rate, HRpeak Heart rate peak, HRreserve Heart rate reserve, HIIT High intensity interval training, LDL-C Low-density lipoprotein, MAP Mean Arterial Pressure, MICT Moderate intensity continuous training, SBP Systolic blood pressure, TC Total Cholesterol, TG Triglycerides, VO2peak Peak oxygen uptake, WC Waist circumference