Annaëlle Couvert, Leslie Goumy, Florie Maillard, Alexandre Esbrat, Kassandra Lanchais, Célia Saugrain, Charlotte Verdier, Eric Doré, Caroline Chevarin, Djamel Adjtoutah, Claire Morel, Bruno Pereira, Vincent Martin, Antonio H Lancha, Nicolas Barnich, Benoît Chassaing, Mélanie Rance, Nathalie Boisseau
Journal: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2024;56(5):839-850
PMID: 38233990
Excess fat mass (FM) and metabolic disturbances are associated with higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes and many cancer types. Regular exercise decreases FM and simultaneously increases the cardiorespiratory capacity and preserves the lean mass. The study aimed to compare the effects of two 12-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programmes (cycling vs. running) on body composition and faecal microbiota composition in men with overweight or obesity. This study was a randomised controlled trial involving non-dieting men. Twenty participants were randomly divided into the two exercise groups: HIIT-RUN (n = 10) and HIIT-BIKE (n = 10). Results showed that both cycling and running HIIT programmes improved body composition in men with overweight/obesity. Additionally, baseline intestinal microbiota composition and its post-intervention variations were correlated with FM reduction, suggesting a possible link between these parameters. The authors concluded that both cycling and running HIIT programmes effectively reduced fat mass, and gut microbiota changes were associated with this improvement.
PURPOSE
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can efficiently decrease total and (intra-)abdominal fat mass (FM); however, the effects of running versus cycling HIIT programs on FM reduction have not been compared yet. In addition, the link between HIIT-induced FM reduction and gut microbiota must be better investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two 12-wk HIIT isoenergetic programs (cycling vs running) on body composition and fecal microbiota composition in nondieting men with overweight or obesity.
METHODS
Sixteen men (age, 54.2 ± 9.6 yr; body mass index, 29.9 ± 2.3 kg·m -2 ) were randomly assigned to the HIIT-BIKE (10 × 45 s at 80%-85% of maximal heart rate, 90-s active recovery) or HIIT-RUN (9 × 45 s at 80%-85% of maximal heart rate, 90-s active recovery) group (3 times per week). Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to determine body composition. Preintervention and postintervention fecal microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and diet was controlled.
RESULTS
Overall, body weight, and abdominal and visceral FM decreased over time ( P < 0.05). No difference was observed for weight, total body FM, and visceral FM between groups (% change). Conversely, abdominal FM loss was greater in the HIIT-RUN group (-16.1% vs -8.3%; P = 0.050). The α-diversity of gut microbiota did not vary between baseline and intervention end and between groups, but was associated with abdominal FM change ( r = -0.6; P = 0.02). The baseline microbiota profile and composition changes were correlated with total and abdominal/visceral FM losses.
CONCLUSIONS
Both cycling and running isoenergetic HIIT programs improved body composition in men with overweight/obesity. Baseline intestinal microbiota composition and its postintervention variations were correlated with FM reduction, strengthening the possible link between these parameters. The mechanisms underlying the greater abdominal FM loss in the HIIT-RUN group require additional investigations.
Copyright © 2024 by the American College of Sports Medicine.
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