Adiponectin response to high-intensity interval training in overweight and obese individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Saber Saedmocheshi, Ghazi Racil, Aref Mehdipour, Mohamed Tounsi, Yassin Trabelsi, Ehsan Amiri, Gian Mario Migliaccio, Karim Chamari, Nicola Maffulli, Johnny Padulo

Journal: British medical bulletin 2026;157(1):

PMID: 41587299

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Adipose tissue secretes bioactive substances, adipokines, which affect cardiovascular health. The secretion of adinopectines is associated with decreases in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases risk-factors such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) exerts beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health, but its effect on adipokines is unclear.

SOURCES OF DATA

This systematic review and meta-analysis, aimed to report the effects of HIIT on adiponectin levels in overweight and obese individuals, was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The literature search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The quality of the articles was evaluated using the Downs and Black checklist.

AREAS OF AGREEMENT

HIIT training generally did not affect adiponectin levels in overweight and obese individuals. Most likely, this effect can result from the lack of weight loss of the subjects in some studies.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY

One notable constraint within the scope of these investigations pertains to the relatively modest sample sizes employed. Consequently, future research endeavours should employ larger cohorts to enhance the generalizability of findings.

GROWING POINTS

HIIT focused on weight loss and fat percentage may effectively enhance the impact of HIIT on adiponectin levels.

AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH

Future research should implement rigorous dietary controls to isolate the independent effects of HIIT on adiponectin modulation.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42024580266.

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Address: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, 6617715175 Sanandaj, Iran.; Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Gafsa, 2112 Gafsa, Tunisia.; Research Unit (LR 23JS01) "Sport Performance, Health & Society", Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, 1000 Tunis, Tunisia.; Research Laboratory: Exercise Physiology and Physiopathology: From Integrated to Molecular "Biology, Medicine and Health" (LR19ES09), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia.; Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Rome Open University, 00166 Rome, Italy.; Naufar, Wellness and Recovery Center, 93097 Doha, Qatar.; Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.; Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Guy Hilton Research Centre, School of Medicine, Keele University, ST5 5BG Stoke-On-Trent, United Kingdom.; Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Surgery, Queen Mary University of London, E1 4NS London, United Kingdom.; Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.

DOI: 10.1093/bmb/ldag002

MeSH Terms: Humans, Adiponectin, High-Intensity Interval Training, Obesity, Overweight, Weight Loss