# Effects of high-intensity interval training compared to moderate-intensity continuous training on maximal oxygen consumption and blood pressure in healthy men: A randomized controlled trial

PMID: 31584766
Journal: Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud
Published: 2019 Sep 1
Authors: Arboleda-Serna VH, Feito Y, Patiño-Villada FA, Vargas-Romero AV, Arango-Vélez EF

## Question

Is low-volume HIIT superior to moderate-intensity continuous training for improving VO2max and blood pressure in healthy men aged 18-44 years?

## Summary

In 44 healthy low-active men, 8 weeks of low-volume treadmill HIIT did not improve VO2max more than moderate continuous training. HIIT improved VO2max within the group, but moderate continuous training produced lower post-intervention systolic blood pressure and had fewer training-related adverse events.

## Population

- Healthy low-active men aged 18-44 years
- Sample size: 44
- Age: HIIT median 29.5 years; MICT median 23.5 years
- Sex: Male
- Fitness level: Less than 150 minutes/week aerobic physical activity
- Health status: Apparently healthy, physician-cleared

## Methodology

- Two-arm randomized controlled trial
- 8 weeks
- Supervised treadmill exercise sessions at a public university
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Low-volume treadmill HIIT.
- Modality: Treadmill.
- Work intervals: 30 seconds.
- Recovery: 60 seconds at speed equivalent to 50-55% VO2max.
- Sets or repetitions: 15 bouts.
- Intensity: 90-95% HRmax, 10% treadmill grade.
- Session duration: About 30.5 minutes including warm-up/cool-down.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 8 weeks.
- Progression: Manual speed adjustment to maintain intensity.
- MICT.
- Modality: Treadmill.
- Work intervals: 40 minutes continuous.
- Sets or repetitions: 1 continuous bout.
- Intensity: 65-75% HRmax.
- Session duration: 48 minutes including warm-up/cool-down.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 8 weeks.
- Progression: Manual speed adjustment to maintain intensity.

## Outcomes

### VO2max
Status: mixed
HIIT improved VO2max within group but was not superior to MICT between groups.

Between-group p=0.54; HIIT within-group p=0.0001

### systolic blood pressure
Status: worse/safety concern
Post-intervention systolic blood pressure was lower after MICT than HIIT.

Median difference 8 mmHg; p<0.001

### diastolic blood pressure
Status: no clear change
No significant between-group difference was found for diastolic blood pressure.

p=0.15 intention-to-treat

### adverse events
Status: worse/safety concern
Two HIIT musculoskeletal adverse events were associated with treadmill training.

## Practical Insights

- Do not default to claiming HIIT beats moderate continuous training for VO2max.
- Short HIIT can improve VO2max, but lower-limb musculoskeletal risk needs progression and alternatives.
- For blood pressure goals in healthy low-active men, moderate continuous training may be at least as relevant.

## Limitations

- Men only
- Baseline group imbalances
- Resistance-training co-intervention
- Incomplete control of outside activity
- No long-term follow-up

## Safety And Adherence

- HIIT: right pes anserine bursitis due to training led one participant to abandon after 15 sessions.
- HIIT: tendinitis in the vastus medialis oblique insertion was associated with treadmill training and improved partly after reducing load and NSAIDs.
- MICT had three events, with one gastrocnemius fatigue event associated with treadmill running.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31584766/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.4451) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7357372/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.