Purpose: Acute-total and chronic-partial sleep deprivation increase the risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular function assessed by flow mediated dilation (FMD) is reduced after sleep deprivation. High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) improves postprandial FMD. Sleep-deprived individuals may practice HIIE followed by a high-fat breakfast. This study investigated the acute-partial sleep deprivation (APSD) and HIIE interaction on postprandial FMD.
Methods: Fifteen healthy males (age 31 ± 5 years) participated in: (a) reference sleep (~ 9.5 h) with no HIIE (RS), (b) RS and HIIE (RSX), and (c) APSD and HIIE (SSX). HIIE was performed in 3:2 min intervals at 90% and 40% of VO2 reserve. FMD was assessed the night before (D1), the morning of the next day (D2), 1 h (1hrPE) and 4 h post HIIE (4hrPE).
Results: FMD% change was lower at RS compared to both RSX (F1,14 = 23.96, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.631) and SSX (F1,14 = 4.8, p = 0.47, η2 = 0.253) at 1hrPE. RSX and SSX did not differ at 1hrPE (F1,14 = 0.2, p = 0.889, η2 = 0.001), but SSX elicited greater FDM responses. Absolute FMD change was lower at RS compared to both RSX (F1,14 = 21.5, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.606) and SSX (F1,14 = 7.01, p = 0.019, η2 = 0.336) at 1hrPE. RSX and SSX did not differ at 1hrPE (F1,14 = .03, p = 0.858, η2 = 0.002), but SSX elicited greater FDM responses.
Conclusions: HIIE short-term effects on cardiovascular function remain cardioprotective even after an acute-partial sleep deprivation.
Keywords: Cardiovascular; Exercise; Flow-mediated dilation; Good sleepers.