PMID 25378960

Research
All papers

Effects of a high-intensity intermittent training program on aerobic capacity and lipid profile in trained subjects

Ouerghi N, Khammassi M, Boukorraa S, Feki M, Kaabachi N, Bouassida A

Question

Does adding short-short 15/15 high-intensity intermittent running to regular soccer training improve aerobic capacity and lipid profile in trained male soccer players?

Summary

In amateur male soccer players, adding twice-weekly 15-s/15-s high-intensity running intervals to regular football training for 12 weeks improved maximal aerobic velocity and VO2max more than regular football training alone. Lipid-profile changes were favorable in direction but not statistically significant.

Methodology

  • Young male amateur soccer players plus untrained male controls.
  • 24 participants.
  • Running.
  • Work intervals: 15 s.
  • Recovery: 15 s passive; 3 min between sets.
  • Intensity: 105% MAV initially, plus 5% MAV every 3 weeks.
  • Two 10-min sets plus 3-min inter-set recovery.
  • 2 sessions/week in addition to soccer training.
  • 12 weeks.
  • Small controlled training study with randomized allocation between trained soccer groups
  • VO2max, Maximal aerobic velocity, Lipid profile, and Anthropometrics were tracked.

Outcomes

VO2max

HIIT group improved VO2max at 6 and 12 weeks and exceeded soccer-only group at 12 weeks.

53.3 +/- 4.0 to 54.8 +/- 3.0 at 6 weeks p<0.05 and 57.0 +/- 3.2 at 12 weeks p<0.001; EG1 > EG2 p<0.05.

Improved

MAV

Maximal aerobic velocity improved earlier and more in the added-HIIT group.

Significant after 6 and 12 weeks in EG1; EG2 only after 12 weeks.

Improved

Lipids

Lipid-profile changes were favorable in direction but not statistically significant.

No significant lipid changes at 6 or 12 weeks.

No clear change

Weight/BMI

Weight and BMI decreased in both soccer training groups but not controls.

Reported as significant in EG1 and EG2.

Improved

Insights

  • 15/15 running intervals are relevant to field-sport conditioning.
  • Aerobic capacity claims are stronger than lipid-profile claims.
  • This is not general-population weight-loss evidence.

Limitations

  • Small sample
  • Male soccer-player sample
  • Dietary intake, energy expenditure, and alcohol consumption not controlled
  • Dropout/adherence not reported
  • Lipid outcomes nonsignificant

Safety

  • Participants had a medical exam, but the article did not report adverse-event outcomes.