HIIT, Steroid Hormones and Mental Health in Adolescents

High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hormone

Treatments: Behavioral: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07311460

HIIT-ADO-Stroid-H

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of study was to investigate the effect of a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), hormonal, and mental health markers in male adolescents. The main question it aims to answer is: Does HIIT improve CRF, hormonal (testosterone and cortisol levels, testosterone:cortisol ratio), and mental health (depression, anxiety and stress scores) markers. Researchers will compare HIIT (designed to experimental group) to non-training intervention (designed to control group) to see if the training program works to improve the health status. HIIT consisted of three sessions per week for 10 weeks, comprising of three sets of four to eight bouts of 30-s runs at high intensity [100-110% of maximal aerobic speed (MAS)], interspersed with 30-s recovery runs at low intensity (50% of MAS) between bouts.

Full description

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time-efficient method for improving physical fitness in youth. However, limited evidence exists regarding its effects on testosterone and cortisol levels, testosterone:cortisol ratio, and mental health outcomes during adolescence, a critical period of development. This study was to investigate the effect of a HIIT intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF, expressed as maximal aerobic speed and maximal oxygen consumption), hormonal, and mental health markers in male adolescents. Twenty-eight healthy male adolescents (age, 14.9±0.74 yrs.) were randomized to a HIIT group (HIITG, n=15) or a non-training control group (CG, n=13). HIIT consisted of three sessions per week for 10 weeks, comprising of three sets of four to eight bouts of 30-s runs at high intensity [100-110% of maximal aerobic speed (MAS)], interspersed with 30-s recovery runs at low intensity (50% MAS) between bouts. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included CRF (VO2max), hormonal markers (testosterone, cortisol, and testosterone:cortisol ratio), and mental health markers (depression, anxiety and stress scores).

Enrollment: 28 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 14 to 16 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• male sex,
• age 14 to 16 years,
• normal weight according to the WHO child growth standards for BMI (BMI ≤ 85th percentile)
• parental approval.

Exclusion criteria

• medical conditions contraindicating intense physical exercise
• non-compliance with the training program
• habitual physical activity exceeding school physical education lessons
• current or recent (within 3 months) dietary supplementation or restriction
• incomplete data.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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28 participants in 2 patient groups

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) group

Experimental group

Description:

The HIIT group performed a HIIT program consisting of three sessions per week for 10 weeks, including three sets of four to eight bouts of 30-second runs at high intensity (100-110% of maximal aerobic speed, MAS), interspersed with 30-second recovery runs at low intensity (50% MAS) between bouts.

Treatment:

Behavioral: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) program

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

The participants in the control group maintained their normal daily activities.