The effect of chronic high-intensity interval training programs on glycaemic control, aerobic resistance, and body composition in type 2 diabetic patients: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes is an increasing health problem worldwide. HIIT has been proposed as an exercise alternative to be part of integral type 2 diabetes treatment.

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effect of different types of chronic HIIT on glycaemic control, aerobic resistance, and body composition in individuals above 18 years with T2D.

Design: This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement and was registered with PROSPERO on November 21st, 2021.

Data sources: A systematic literature search of the following databases: EbscoHost (Academic Search Ultimate, Fuente Académica Plus, MEDline and SportDiscus), Web of Science, PubMed, and EMBASE between April of 2021 and April of 2023 was conducted.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: Eligibility criteria included (1) participants aged ≥ 18 years with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, (2) an HIIT protocol with detailed description, (3) control group and/or continuous aerobic training comparison group, (4) report of pre-test and post-test values for at least one of the studied variables (from glycaemic control, aerobic resistance, and/or body composition), and (5) experimental or quasi-experimental intervention design.

Analyses: Meta-analysis was made by a pre-post-test between-group analysis following the inverse variance heterogeneity model for each variable, and then, a subgroup analysis by type of HIIT was conducted.

Results: Of the 2817 records obtained, 180 records were included for meta-analysis. Significant improvements were found in the most part of the variables when HIIT was compared to control group, while fat-free mass kept without changes. HIIT vs. continuous aerobic training results showed and advantage in favor of HIIT for fasting blood glycemia. Subgroup analysis refers a possible advantage of SI-HIIT and SIT-HIIT in the improvement of fasting glycemia and SIT-HIIT advantage in HOMA 1-IR decrease.

Conclusions: HIIT improves glycaemic control, aerobic resistance, and % fat and waist circumference, and kept fat-free mass unchanged in individuals with T2D. SI-HIIT and SIT-HIIT could be better than the other types of HIIT. HIIT benefit is similar to continuous aerobic training except for fasting blood glycemia.

Keywords: Aerobic resistance; Body composition; Glycaemic control; HIIT; Type 2 diabetes.