In adults with hypertension, 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training significantly reduced 24-hour systolic and diastolic ambulatory blood pressure (by 6.1/3.5 mmHg, P<0.001) compared to control.
RCT (n=60)
Randomized
Does high-intensity interval training improve ambulatory blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and gut-derived metabolites in adults with hypertension?
A 12-week high-intensity interval training program significantly reduced ambulatory blood pressure and arterial stiffness in hypertensive adults, with changes correlating with favorable shifts in gut-derived metabolites.
Mean Difference: 6.1
p-value: p=<0.001
Background: Gut microbiota-derived metabolites, including trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), are associated with vascular function and blood pressure (BP) regulation. However, whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is accompanied by coordinated changes in these metabolites, along with improvements in ambulatory BP (ABP), and arterial stiffness in adults with hypertension (HTN), remains unclear. Methods: In this 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT), 60 adults with HTN (age 60.1 ± 6.1 years) were allocated to the HIIT or CONTROL group. HIIT consisted of 10–15 cycling intervals (1 min at 85–90% of heart rate reserve) interspersed with 1 min of active recovery (50–55% of heart rate reserve), performed three times per week. 24 h ABP, carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and plasma concentrations of TMAO and SCFAs were assessed before and after intervention. Results: Compared with CONTROL, HIIT was associated with greater reductions in office BP (6.9/3.1 mmHg, P < 0.001), 24 h systolic and diastolic ABP (6.1/3.5 mmHg, P < 0.001) and cfPWV (225.7 ± 41.8 cm/s, P < 0.001). Plasma TMAO concentrations decreased following HIIT (1.41 ± 0.66 μmol/l, P = 0.001), while acetate (5.72 ± 2.27 μmol/l), propionate (0.76 ± 0.36 μmol/l), and butyrate (0.65 ± 0.21 μmol/l) increased ( Ps = 0.001). Reductions in systolic ABP ( r = 0.780, P < 0.001), diastolic ABP ( r = 0.713, P < 0.001), and cfPWV ( r = 0.542, P = 0.002) were positively associated with decreases in TMAO and inversely associated with changes in SCFAs levels. Conclusion: In adults with HTN, HIIT was associated with improvements in ABP, arterial stiffness, and gut microbiota-derived metabolites level. These findings support an integrated relationship between exercise-related metabolic adaptation and vascular function, highlighting the potential relevance of the gut-vascular axis in BP regulation.
Afousi et al. (Fri,) conducted a rct in Hypertension (n=60). High-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. Control was evaluated on Reduction in 24 h systolic and diastolic ambulatory blood pressure (MD 6.1/3.5 mmHg, p=<0.001). In adults with hypertension, 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training significantly reduced 24-hour systolic and diastolic ambulatory blood pressure (by 6.1/3.5 mmHg, P<0.001) compared to control.