PMID 33985508

Research
All papers

Genome wide association study of response to interval and continuous exercise training: the Predict-HIIT study

Williams CJ, Li Z, Harvey N, Lea RA, Gurd BJ, Bonafiglia JT, Papadimitriou I, Jacques M, Croci I, Stensvold D, Wisloff U, Taylor JL, Gajanand T, Cox ER, Ramos JS, Fassett RG, Little JP, Francois ME, Hearon CM Jr, Sarma S, Janssen SLJE, Van Craenenbroeck EM, Beckers P, Cornelissen VA, Howden EJ, Keating SE, Yan X, Bishop DJ, Bye A, Haupt LM, Griffiths LR, Ashton KJ, Brown MA, Torquati L, Eynon N, Coombes JS

Question

Can genome-wide genetic variation predict individual VO2peak response to HIIT, sprint interval training, or moderate continuous training?

Summary

This genome-wide association study tested whether common genetic variants could predict VO2peak response to interval or continuous exercise training. In 507 participants from 18 exercise interventions, no genome-wide significant predictors were found, and a 12-SNP predictor did not successfully predict response in cross-validation or an independent HIIT validation cohort.

Methodology

  • Predict-HIIT exercise intervention participants with GWAS data; validation in sedentary apparently healthy adults.
  • 507 participants.
  • Varied exercise interventions.
  • Work intervals: Varied; validation used 4-minute intervals.
  • Recovery: Varied; validation used 3-minute recoveries.
  • Intensity: High-volume HIIT category had >=15 min high-intensity work; validation targeted 90-95% HRmax.
  • MICT at least 30 min continuous exercise.
  • Varied; validation 3 sessions/week.
  • Varied; validation 6 weeks.
  • Multi-centre genome-wide association and validation study using exercise intervention datasets
  • VO2peak response, and Genetic prediction were tracked.

Outcomes

GWAS loci

No covariate-adjusted variants reached genome-wide significance.

12 suggestive loci p<1e-5; strongest near MAGI2 rs6959961 p=2.61e-7.

No clear change

Predictor score

The 12-SNP predictor did not predict VO2peak response in cross-validation or independent validation.

Validation analyses p>0.1.

No clear change

VO2peak response

VO2peak response varied substantially, with many participants classified as likely nonresponders or uncertain responders.

Predict-HIIT overall response 3.0 +/- 3.8; likely nonresponders 41.4%, likely responders 24.1%, uncertain 34.5%.

Mixed

Insights

  • Do not promise genotype-based personalization of HIIT response from current evidence.
  • Individual VO2peak response varies, so programs should measure user progress rather than assume a uniform response.
  • The validation 4 x 4-minute protocol is reproducible, but the paper's main contribution is genetics rather than programming.

Limitations

  • Underpowered for genome-wide discovery of small genetic effects.
  • Heterogeneous source interventions and participant populations.
  • Mostly European-descent data.
  • Adherence and safety details were not the focus of the paper.

Safety

  • No adverse events were reported in this secondary GWAS article.
  • Validation HIIT was supervised, but detailed safety and adherence reporting were not central to this paper.
  • Ethics approvals were reported for both Predict-HIIT and Improve-HIIT.