High-intensity interval training acutely alters plasma adipokine levels in young overweight/obese women

The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma adipokine responses to high-intensity interval training (HIT) in overweight/obese women. Twelve women (age 21.7 +/- 3.8 years) completed a 19 days of HIT comprising six session of 4-6 repeats of a Wingate test (0.065 kg load/kg). Plasma adipokine levels were measured before exercise, and at 5 and 90 min after exercise on the first and the last training days. Adiponectin was higher at 5 min than 90 min post-exercise (11.7 +/- 7.3 and 10.5 +/- 5.8 ng/ml; p = .01) in the first exercise day. Leptin decreased 5 min after exercise (23.6 +/- 13.2 vs. baseline 27.8 +/- 14.4 ng/ml; p < .01) and remained depressed following 90 min (p < .01). The changes in adiponectin and leptin concentrations were similar on the first and last exercise days. No consistent effect was found on resistin concentration. Future studies are required to disclose the functional consequences of these alterations in plasma adipokine levels.