Background

The present study was a non-blinded, randomized control trial examining the relationship between high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and various indicators of mental health. First, we examined the effects of HIIT on anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and resting-state proinflammatory cytokines relative to placebo-exercise control. Then, we examined whether baseline anxiety status moderates the relationship between HIIT and cardiorespiratory improvements to explore a potential non-responder phenotype linked to mental health.

Methods

Young adults (age 18–30) were randomized to either nine weeks of HIIT (n = 28) or placebo-exercise (PLACEBO; n = 32). Randomization and allocation were conducted using a computer-generator program. Anxiety and depressive symptoms, proinflammatory cytokines, and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention period.

Results

HIIT and PLACEBO groups (n = 46) experienced similar reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms (p < .001) and no change in resting-state proinflammatory cytokines (p > .05). Anxiety severity moderated the effects of HIIT on cardiorespiratory fitness (p < .05), such that individuals with low anxiety at baseline experienced greater improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness than those with higher anxiety.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that nine weeks of HIIT may not alter physiological indicators of mental health. Furthermore, anxiety status may be a potential non-responder phenotype. Further research is needed to examine whether these results generalize to other HIIT protocols and how the effects of HIIT compare to the consistent and robust effects of moderate-intensity continuous training on mental health.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04118309.

Funding

Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant [grant number 296518].

中文翻译：

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研究高强度间歇训练和心理健康的随机对照试验：一种与年轻人焦虑相关的新型无应答表型

背景

本研究是一项非盲，随机对照试验，旨在检查高强度间歇训练（HIIT）与心理健康各种指标之间的关系。首先，我们检查了HIIT相对于安慰剂运动控制对焦虑症状，抑郁症状和静止状态促炎细胞因子的影响。然后，我们检查了基线焦虑状态是否缓解了HIIT和心肺功能改善之间的关系，以探索与心理健康相关的潜在无反应者表型。

方法

年轻的成年人（18至30岁）被随机分为9周的HIIT（n  = 28）或安慰剂锻炼（PLACEBO；n  = 32）。使用计算机生成器程序进行随机化和分配。在干预期的开始和结束时评估焦虑和抑郁症状，促炎细胞因子和心肺适应性。

结果

HIIT和PLACEBO组（n = 46）的抑郁和焦虑症状有所减轻（p  <.001），静息状态促炎细胞因子无变化（p  > .05）。焦虑严重程度减轻了HIIT对心肺适应性的影响（p  <.05），因此，基线时焦虑低的人比焦虑较高的人的心肺适应性有了更大的改善。

结论

这些发现表明，HIIT的九周可能不会改变心理健康的生理指标。此外，焦虑状态可能是潜在的无反应者表型。需要进一步研究以检查这些结果是否能推广到其他HIIT方案，以及HIIT的效果与中等强度连续训练对心理健康的一致而强劲的效果相比。

试用注册

ClinicalTrials.gov标识符：NCT04118309。

资金

加拿大自然科学与工程理事会（NSERC）发现补助金[批准号296518]。