Metabolic effects of high-intensity interval training and essential amino acids

Katie R Hirsch; Casey E Greenwalt; Hannah E Cabre; Lacey M Gould; Gabrielle J Brewer; Malia N M Blue; Arny A Ferrando; Kim M Huffman; Elizabeth J Mayer-Davis; Eric D Ryan; Abbie E Smith-Ryan

doi:10.1007/s00421-021-04792-4

Metabolic effects of high-intensity interval training and essential amino acids

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021 Dec;121(12):3297-3311. doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04792-4. Epub 2021 Aug 24.

Authors

Katie R Hirsch¹, Casey E Greenwalt², Hannah E Cabre^{3

4}, Lacey M Gould³, Gabrielle J Brewer⁵, Malia N M Blue³, Arny A Ferrando⁶, Kim M Huffman^{7

8}, Elizabeth J Mayer-Davis^{9

10}, Eric D Ryan^{4

11}, Abbie E Smith-Ryan^{3

4

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geriatrics, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. krhirsch@uams.edu.
² Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
³ Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁴ Department of Allied Health Science, Human Movement Science Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁵ Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
⁶ Department of Geriatrics, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
⁷ Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
⁸ Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
⁹ Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
¹¹ Neuromuscular Assessment Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.

PMID: 34427732
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-021-04792-4

Abstract

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) promotes positive cardiometabolic and body composition changes. Essential amino acids (EAA) may support changes associated with HIIT, but evaluation of potential synergistic effects is lacking. The purpose of this study was to compare independent and combined effects of HIIT and EAA on total body composition and metabolism in men and women considered overweight/obese; an exploratory aim was to evaluate the modulatory effects of sex. Sixty-six healthy adults (50% female; Age: 36.7 ± 6.0 years; BMI: 32.0 ± 4.2 kg/m²) completed 8 weeks of: (1) HIIT, 2 days/weeks; (2) EAA supplementation, 3.6 g twice daily; (3) HIIT + EAA; or (4) control. Body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), substrate metabolism (respiratory exchange ratio; RER), and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks; cardiometabolic blood markers were measured at baseline and 8 weeks. Differences between groups were assessed by linear mixed models covaried for baseline values, followed by 95% confidence intervals (CI) on adjusted mean change scores. There were no significant changes in body composition (p > 0.05) for any group. Changes in RER, but not RMR, occurred with HIIT (mean change; [95% CI]: - 0.04; [- 0.07, - 0.02]) and EAA (- 0.03; [- 0.06, - 0.01]) after 8 weeks. Cardiorespiratory fitness increased following 8 weeks of HIIT (+ 5.1 ml/kg/min [3.3,6.8]) and HIIT + EAA (+ 4.1 ml/kg/min [1.0,6.4]). Changes with HIIT + EAA were not significantly different from HIIT. There were no changes in cardiometabolic markers (p > 0.05) and no sex interaction (p > 0.05). HIIT is efficacious for promoting positive changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and resting substrate metabolism in adults considered overweight/obese. Addition of EAA did not significantly enhance HIIT-induced adaptations. ClinicalTrials.gov ID#NCT04080102.

Keywords: Cardiometabolic health; Exercise; Interval exercise; Nutrition; Protein; Sex differences.

MeSH terms

Adult
Amino Acids, Essential / administration & dosage*
Biomarkers / blood
Body Composition
Body Mass Index
Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Energy Metabolism
Female
High-Intensity Interval Training*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity / metabolism*
Overweight / metabolism*

Substances

Amino Acids, Essential
Biomarkers

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04080102