A single bout of high-intensity interval exercise and work-matched moderate-intensity exercise has minimal effect on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in 7- to 10-year-old boys

• Published in: Journal of sports sciences Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 149 - 155
• Main Authors: Cockcroft, Emma J, Williams, Craig A, Jackman, Sarah R, Bassi, Shikhar, Armstrong, Neil, Barker, Alan R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 17-01-2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Area Under Curve; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Boys; Calorimetry; Calorimetry, Indirect; Cardiometabolic health; Child; children; Chromium; Cross-Over Studies; Energy Metabolism; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; fat oxidation; Glucose; Glucose tolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; High-Intensity Interval Training; Humans; Insulin; Insulin - blood; Insulin resistance; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; physical activity; Postprandial Period - physiology; Cardiometabolic health; children; insulin resistance; fat oxidation; physical activity
• ISSN: 0264-0414; 1466-447X
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2017.1287934

The purpose of this study was to assess the acute effect of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and moderate-intensity exercise (MIE) on glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and fat oxidation in young boys. Eleven boys (8.8 ± 0.8 y) completed three conditions: 1) HIIE; 2) work-matched MIE; and 3) rest (CON) followed by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to determine glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity (Cederholm index). Fat oxidation was measured following the OGTT using indirect calorimetry. There was no effect for condition on plasma [glucose] and [insulin] area under the curve (AUC) responses following the OGTT (P > 0.09). However, there was a "trend" for a condition effect for insulin sensitivity with a small increase after HIIE (P = 0.04, ES = 0.28, 9.7%) and MIE (P = 0.07, ES = 0.21, 6.5%) compared to CON. There was an increase in fat oxidation AUC following HIIE (P = 0.008, ES = 0.79, 38.9%) compared to CON, but with no differences between MIE and CON and HIIE and MIE (P > 0.13). In conclusion, 7- to 10-year-old boys may have limited scope to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance after a single bout of HIIE and MIE. However, fat oxidation is augmented after HIIE but not MIE.