Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Continuous Training on Exercise Capacity, Heart Rate Variability and Isolated Hearts in Diabetic Rats

Background: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been suggested as an alternative for continuous training (CT) in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) due to its short duration and potential to improve adherence to exercise. However, data on its impact on heart rate variability (HRV) are scarce.Objectives: To assess and compare the effects of HIIT and CT on exercise capacity, HRV and isolated hearts in diabetic rats.Methods: DM (intravenous streptozotocin, 45 mg.kg-1) and control (C) animals performed 20 sessions (5 days/week, 50 min, for 4 weeks) of CT on a treadmill (70% of maximal exercise capacity) or HIIT (cycles of 1:1min at 50% and 90% of maximal exercise capacity). HRV was assessed by continuous electrocardiogram, and cardiac function assessed in isolated perfused hearts. For data analysis, we used the framework of the multivariate covariance generalized linear model or one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test, considering p<0.05 as significant.Results: Higher exercise capacity (m/min) was achieved in HIIT (DM-HIIT: 36.5 [IQR 30.0-41.3]; C-HIIT: 41.5 [37.8-44.5], both n=10) compared to CT (DM-CT: 29.0 [23.8-33.0]; C-CT: 32.0 [29.5-37.0], both n=10) (p<0.001). Heart rate (bpm) was lower in DM compared to controls (p<0.001) both in vivo (DM-HIIT:348 +/- 51, C-HIIT:441 +/- 66, DM-CT:361 +/- 70, C-CT:437 +/- 38) and in isolated hearts. There were no differences in HRV between the groups. Maximum and minimal dP/dt were reduced in DM, except +dP/dt in DM-HIIT vs. C-HIIT (mean difference: 595.5 +/- 250.3, p=0.190).Conclusion: Short-term HIIT promotes greater improvement in exercise performance compared to CT, including in DM, without causing significant changes in HRV.