PMID 29611322

Research
All papers

Small non-coding RNAs are altered by short-term sprint interval training in men

Denham J, Gray AJ, Scott-Hamilton J, Hagstrom AD, Murphy AJ

Question

Does short-term sprint interval training alter circulating small non-coding RNAs in whole blood, and are chronically changed miRNAs also changed after one acute SIT session?

Summary

Ten healthy untrained men completed six weeks of cycle sprint interval training and improved VO2max, maximal power, and functional threshold power while many circulating small non-coding RNAs changed.

Methodology

  • Apparently healthy recreationally active but aerobically untrained men in the training cohort.
  • 10 participants.
  • Cycle ergometer.
  • Work intervals: Maximal efforts; acute trial explicitly four 30 s sprints.
  • Recovery: 4 min between sets.
  • Intensity: Maximal.
  • Not fully reported.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 6 weeks.
  • Single-group pre-post training study plus separate acute SIT trial
  • Small ncRNA abundance, VO2max, and Cycling performance were tracked.

Outcomes

VO2max

Relative VO2max increased after six weeks.

42.8 +/- 6.2 to 46.2 +/- 6.0 mL/kg/min; p=0.006.

Improved

Cycling power

Pmax and FTP improved; Wingate mean/peak power did not significantly change.

Pmax/kg p=0.001; FTP/kg p<0.001; Wingate mean/peak p>0.05.

Improved

Small RNAs

Many circulating small ncRNAs changed after chronic SIT; acute SIT did not consistently change selected miRNAs.

1266 small ncRNAs q<0.05; 13 miRNAs q<0.05; acute all p>0.05.

Mixed

Insights

  • Short-term SIT can improve VO2max and cycling threshold power in healthy men.
  • Small RNA findings are mechanistic and should not be turned into consumer claims yet.

Limitations

  • No control group
  • Small male cohort
  • Diet, sleep, stress, and anxiety not monitored
  • Biological function of ncRNA changes not established
  • Training protocol details partly deferred to prior publications

Safety

  • No adverse events were reported.
  • Participants were apparently healthy by ESSA prescreening and medical questionnaires, gave written informed consent, and the study had ethics approval.
  • Ten men completed the six-week SIT cohort; recruitment dropouts and detailed session attendance were not reported in this article.