The impact of high-intensity interval training on the cTnT response to acute exercise in sedentary obese young women

Aims This study characterized (a) the cardiac troponin T (cTnT) response to three forms of acute high-intensity interval exercise (HIE), and (b) the impact of 12 weeks of HIE training on the cTnT response to acute exercise in sedentary obese young women. Methods Thirty-six sedentary women were randomized to traditional HIE training (repeated 4-minute cycling at 90% VO2max interspersed with 3-minute rest, 200 kJ/session), work-equivalent sprint interval exercise (SIE) training (repeated 1-minute cycling at 120% VO2max interspersed with 1.5-minute rest) or repeated-sprint exercise (RSE) training (40 x 6-second all-out sprints interspersed with 9-second rest) group. cTnT was assessed using a high-sensitivity assay before and immediately, 3 and 4 hours after the 1st (PRE), 6th (EARLY), 20th (MID), and 44th (END) training session, respectively. Results cTnT was elevated (P < 0.05) after all forms of acute interval exercise at the PRE and EARLY assessment with cTnT response higher (P < 0.05) after HIE (307%) and SIE (318%) than RSE (142%) at the PRE assessment. All forms of acute interval exercise at MID and END had no effect on the cohort cTnT concentration post-exercise (all P > 0.05). Conclusion For sedentary obese young women, both HIE and SIE, matched for total work, induced a similar elevation in cTnT after acute exercise with a smaller rise observed after RSE. By the 44th training session, almost no post-exercise cTnT elevation was observed in all three groups. Such information is relevant for clinicians as it could improve medical decisionmaking.