Published in eLife, scientists shed more understanding on how high-intensity interval training alters skeletal muscle.

For their study, the research team from the University of Denmark recruited eight health, untrained male volunteer participants. Each participant completed a five week HIIT cycling training. They worked out three times per week, of four minute at 90% target heart rate followed by a two minute rest, repeating this four to five times per workout session.

Using mass spectrometry, researchers analyzed tissue samples collected from the participants’ thigh before and after the study. They looked at the composition of 3,168 proteins, and changes to 1,263 lysine acetyl-sites on 464 acetylated proteins.

At the end of the mass spectrometry analysis, they found an increase in production of proteins used to build mitochondria and contractile proteins. In other words, they found more energy production and power creation in the muscles from HIIT training. They also observed decreased skeletal muscle calcium sensitivity; this points to increased muscle contraction efficiency as calcium is a crucial electrolyte in the muscle contraction process.

HIIT workouts no doubtly should be an important cornerstone of everyone’s workout regime due to its plethora of benefits, such as the one highlighted in the above study. But most importantly, don’t just sit there making excuses for yourself about being not physically fit, anyone can change their fitness destiny.

Morten Hostrup et al, High-intensity interval training remodels the proteome and acetylome of human skeletal muscle. eLife. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.69802