# Effective of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on body composition, glycolipid metabolism, and cardiopulmonary function in patients with pre-diabetes: a randomized controlled trial

PMID: 40801034
Journal: Frontiers in endocrinology
Published: 2025
Authors: Chen X, Wu L, Zheng Y, Ni X, Zhuang X, Chen L, Hu Q, Zou C, Yin L

## Question

Do 12 weeks of HIIT and MICT differ in effects on body composition, cardiovascular measures, glycolipid metabolism, and cardiopulmonary fitness in patients with pre-diabetes?

## Summary

In middle-aged Chinese adults with pre-diabetes, 12 weeks of supervised cycling HIIT and moderate continuous cycling both improved blood glucose and VO2peak. MICT had clearer advantages for visceral fat, body fat percentage, triglycerides, and diastolic blood pressure, while HIIT delivered similar glucose and aerobic fitness gains in shorter sessions.

## Population

- Middle-aged adults with pre-diabetes.
- Sample size: 71
- Age: 45-59 years; completers around 51 years
- Sex: Both sexes; completers 36 male across both groups.
- Fitness level: Not regularly exercising before the trial.
- Health status: Pre-diabetes; screened for exercise test contraindications.

## Methodology

- Assessor-blind, two-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial.
- 12 weeks
- Hospital-recruited pre-diabetes trial in China using cycle ergometer exercise.
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- HIIT cycling.
- Modality: Cycle ergometer.
- Work intervals: 10 x 1 min.
- Recovery: 1 min active recovery at 50% HRpeak between intervals.
- Sets or repetitions: 10.
- Intensity: 75-90% HRpeak; Borg RPE 16-17.
- Session duration: 30 min including warm-up and cool-down.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 12 weeks.
- Progression: Ergometer resistance adjusted to maintain target HR.
- MICT cycling.
- Modality: Cycle ergometer.
- Work intervals: 50 min continuous moderate exercise.
- Sets or repetitions: 1 continuous bout.
- Intensity: 55-70% HRpeak; Borg RPE 13-15.
- Session duration: 60 min including warm-up and cool-down.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 12 weeks.
- Progression: Ergometer resistance adjusted to maintain target HR.

## Outcomes

### Glucose markers
Status: improved
FBG, 2-hour glucose, and HbA1c decreased significantly in both HIIT and MICT without a significant between-group difference.

Within-group p<0.001.

### VO2peak
Status: improved
VO2peak increased in both groups with no significant between-group difference.

HIIT +2.13 +/- 4.94 ml/kg/min; MICT +1.6 +/- 3.40 ml/kg/min; between-group p=0.647.

### Body composition
Status: mixed
BMI decreased in both groups; MICT had greater reductions in visceral adipose area and body fat rate, while lean and muscle mass decreased more in HIIT.

BMI HIIT p=0.016; MICT p=0.021; visceral adipose p=0.043 and body fat rate p=0.030 favoring MICT.

### Blood pressure and lipids
Status: mixed
Systolic blood pressure decreased in both groups; MICT reduced diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides more than HIIT.

SBP within groups p<0.001; DBP between-group p=0.011; TG between-group p=0.006.

## Practical Insights

- For pre-diabetes, short cycling intervals may improve glucose and aerobic capacity but should not be presented as superior to MICT for fat or triglyceride changes.
- Use heart-rate or RPE monitoring when translating this protocol.
- Diet monitoring matters because body composition changes included lean mass losses.

## Limitations

- Dietary education was provided but diet was not strictly monitored or recorded.
- HIIT and MICT were not energy-expenditure matched.
- No long-term follow-up for diabetes prevention or maintenance.

## Safety And Adherence

- Exercise adverse events were recorded, but no specific adverse events were reported in the results.
- Participants were screened for exercise treadmill contraindications.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40801034/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2025.1614149) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12339354/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

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