PMID 39234305

Research
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Short-term HIIT impacts HDL function differently in lean, obese, and diabetic subjects

Zhu L, An J, Luu T, Reyna SM, Tantiwong P, Sriwijitkamol A, Musi N, Stafford JM

Question

How does a short-term supervised HIIT program affect HDL function and lipoprotein measures in lean, obese, and type 2 diabetic adults?

Summary

This secondary analysis used stored samples from six lean, six obese, and six recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes participants after a supervised 15-day cycling HIIT program. HIIT improved HDL antioxidant capacity in all groups, improved cholesterol efflux and HDL-C only in lean participants, and improved several lipid markers mainly in obese and diabetic participants.

Methodology

  • Six lean, six obese nondiabetic, and six obese type 2 diabetic sedentary participants from a prior intervention.
  • 18 participants.
  • Cycle ergometer.
  • Work intervals: 2 minutes at 90% VO2peak.
  • Recovery: 8 minutes at 70% VO2peak within each set; 2 minutes complete rest after each set.
  • Intensity: 70% and 90% VO2peak.
  • 40 minutes exercise plus rests.
  • Daily during 15-day program; exact weekly schedule not otherwise reported.
  • 15 days.
  • Secondary biochemical analysis of a supervised short-term exercise intervention
  • HDL antioxidant capacity, Cholesterol efflux, Lipoproteins, and Insulin sensitivity context were tracked.

Outcomes

HDL antioxidant

HDL antioxidant capacity improved in lean, obese, and T2DM groups.

Post-HIIT HDL delayed LDL oxidation in all groups; copper reduction improved in lean and T2DM.

Improved

Cholesterol efflux

Cholesterol efflux improved only in lean subjects.

Figure 4D; group-specific significant improvement only in lean.

Mixed

Lipid profile

TG improved in obese and T2DM; LDL-C and VLDL-C changes were strongest in T2DM; HDL-C increased only in lean.

T2DM TG/HDL-C decreased from 3.995 +/- 0.486 to 2.512 +/- 0.218, p<0.001.

Mixed

Insights

  • Metabolic state can change which lipid or HDL function markers respond to HIIT.
  • Do not equate HDL antioxidant improvements with broad HDL-C increases or clinical cardiovascular outcomes.

Limitations

  • Six samples per group.
  • Secondary analysis of stored samples.
  • No non-exercise control.
  • Surrogate lab HDL function outcomes.
  • Limited plasma prevented some HDL anti-inflammatory assays.

Safety

  • No adverse events were reported in the reviewed article text.
  • The study used supervised training and clinical sampling; because participants included obese and recently diagnosed T2DM groups, translation requires medical screening and medication-aware supervision.