The effects of 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on FGF21, irisin, and myostatin in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of a 12-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on irisin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and myostatin (MSTN) among men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Forty-five adult men with T2DM were randomly selected and assigned to receive and perform HIIT (4 × 4 min at 85–95% HRmax with three min of active rest at 50–60% HRmax in between) and MICT (walking/running continuously for 47 min at 60–70% HRmax) three sessions per week for 12 weeks, or to act as a non-exercise control (CON) group. The subjects’ blood samples were collected at baseline and 48 hours after the last intervention session. Our research revealed that both interventions resulted in similar decreases in FGF21 and MSTN when compared to the CON (p < .01). However, only the HIIT group showed a significant increase in irisin (p < .01) compared to the CON. Further, improvements in insulin resistance, body composition, and VO₂ peak were noted in both intervention groups compared with those of the CON group (p < .01). It seems that while either aerobic exercise strategy could be seen as a therapy for men with T2DM, HIIT had a more advantageous effect on the irisin response.

Keywords:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• high-intensity interval training
• moderate-intensity continuous training
• irisin
• FGF21
• myostatin

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge and appreciate all the people who helped us with this study.

Ethical approval

This investigation was confirmed by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20181002041204N2) and the AJA University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee (IR.AJUMS.REC.1398.229). The experimental methods were conducted according to the latest revision of the Declaration of Helsinki. The participants signed written informed consent before participating in the investigation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All the data employed to support the outcomes of this investigation are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.