Similar anti-inflammatory acute responses from moderate-intensity continu-ous and high-intensity intermittent exercise

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of high-intensity intermittent exercise (hiie) versus volume matched steady state exercise (sse) on inflammatory and metabolic responses. eight physically active male subjects completed two experimental sessions,a 5-km run on a treadmill either continuously (70% vvo2max) or intermittently (1:1 min at vvo2max). blood samples were collected at rest,immediately,30 and 60 minutes after the exercise session. blood was analyzed for glucose,non-ester fatty acid (nefa),uric acid,lactate,cortisol,and cytokines (il-6,il-10 and tnf-α) levels. the lactate levels exhibited higher values immediately post-exercise than at rest (hiie 1.34 ± 0.24 to 7.11 ± 2.85,and sse 1.35 ± 0.14 to 4.06±1.60 mmol·l-1,p < 0.05),but hiie promoted higher values than sse (p < 0.05); the nefa levels were higher immediately post-exercise than at rest only in the sse condition (0.71 ± 0.04 to 0.82±0.09 meq/l,respectively,p < 0.05),yet,sse promoted higher values than hiie immediately after exercise (hiie 0.72±0.03 vs sse 0.82±0.09 meq·l-1,p < 0.05). glucose and uric acid levels did not show changes under the different conditions (p > 0.05). cortisol,il-6,il-10 and tnf-α levels showed time-dependent changes under the different conditions (p < 0.05),however,the area under the curve of tnf-α in the sse were higher than hiie (p < 0.05),and the area under the curve of il-6 in the hiie showed higher values than sse (p < 0.05). in addition,both exercise conditions promote increased il-10 levels and il-10/tnf-α ratio (p < 0.05). in conclusion,our results demonstrated that both exercise protocols,when volume is matched,promote similar inflammatory responses,leading to an anti-inflammatory status; however,the metabolic responses are different. © journal of sports science and medicine.