PMID 34503198

Research
All papers

The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training vs. Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Inflammatory Markers, Body Composition, and Physical Fitness in Overweight/Obese Survivors of Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Hooshmand Moghadam B, Golestani F, Bagheri R, Cheraghloo N, Eskandari M, Wong A, Nordvall M, Suzuki K, Pournemati P

Question

Does supervised 12-week cycling HIIT improve inflammatory markers, body composition, and physical fitness in overweight or obese breast cancer survivors more than moderate-intensity continuous training or usual lifestyle control?

Summary

This randomized trial tested whether 12 weeks of supervised cycling HIIT or moderate continuous cycling could improve inflammation, body composition, and fitness in sedentary overweight or obese postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. Both exercise groups improved several inflammatory markers, body weight, fat mass, VO2peak, and strength compared with baseline and control. HIIT produced larger improvements than MICT for body mass, fat mass, TNF-alpha, leptin, and lower-body strength, with no adverse side effects reported and 86.6% training adherence.

Methodology

  • Sedentary overweight/obese postmenopausal female breast cancer survivors at least six months after treatment.
  • 40 participants.
  • Cycle ergometer.
  • Work intervals: 30 seconds.
  • Recovery: 2 minutes active recovery.
  • Intensity: 95-115 rpm and at least 90% maximum target HR by the fourth interval.
  • 20-30 minutes including warm-up and cool-down.
  • 3 days/week.
  • 12 weeks.
  • Three-arm randomized controlled trial comparing HIIT, MICT, and lifestyle control.
  • TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8, leptin, adiponectin, Body mass, fat mass, lean mass, VO2peak, and Upper- and lower-body strength were tracked.

Outcomes

Inflammatory markers

HIIT and MICT reduced IL-6, TNF-alpha, and leptin and increased IL-10 and adiponectin; HIIT was superior to MICT/control for TNF-alpha and leptin.

HIIT TNF-alpha -1.84 pg/mL, MICT -0.99 pg/mL; HIIT leptin -0.35 ng/mL, MICT -0.16 ng/mL; HIIT post values significantly favored versus MICT and control for TNF-alpha and leptin.

Improved

Body composition

HIIT and MICT reduced body mass and fat mass; HIIT produced greater reductions than MICT and control.

HIIT body mass -1.8 kg and fat mass -0.81 kg; MICT body mass -0.91 kg and fat mass -0.18 kg; ANCOVA favored HIIT for body mass and fat mass.

Improved

VO2peak

Both exercise groups improved VO2peak versus control, with no significant difference between HIIT and MICT.

HIIT +0.95 mL/kg/min, MICT +0.67 mL/kg/min; both differed from control, not from each other.

Improved

Safety/adherence

Training adherence was high and no adverse side effects were reported.

Adherence across HIIT and MICT was 86.6%; no adverse side effects reported.

Improved

Insights

  • A low hard-work dose, progressed from 2 to 3.5 minutes of hard cycling per session, can still produce measurable benefits in a supervised clinical population.
  • Long active recovery after short 30-second efforts may be a useful tolerance strategy for lower-fitness or clinical users.
  • Cancer survivor HIIT content should emphasize screening, clearance, and supervision rather than presenting the protocol as universally self-directed.

Limitations

  • Small sample size.
  • Bioelectrical impedance body-composition measurement.
  • No long-term follow-up.
  • Specific postmenopausal breast cancer survivor population limits generalization.

Safety

  • No adverse side effects were reported.
  • Participants were medically screened and supervised.