Effects of practical models of low-volume high-intensity interval training on glycemic control and insulin resistance in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 39917538 · doi:10.3389/fendo.2025.1481200
What was done
Authors searched four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library) for randomized controlled trials assessing practical low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT; ≤15 minutes of intense exercise within a ≤30-minute session, or sprint interval training <30 seconds all-out) against moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) or no-exercise controls. Eligible studies evaluated pre- and post-intervention glycemic control and insulin resistance markers in non-athlete adults.
What was found
Twenty studies were included (16 analyzed for HIIT). Compared with controls, LV-HIIT with reduced intensity and extended intervals significantly lowered fasting plasma glucose (MD = -16.63 mg/dL; 95% CI: -25.30 to -7.96; p < 0.001) and HbA1c (MD = -0.70%; 95% CI: -1.10 to -0.29; p < 0.001), with greater benefits in participants with overweight, obesity, or type 2 diabetes. Dose-response meta-regressions showed fasting glucose decreased by 0.10 mg/dL per additional second of interval duration (p = 0.046), while HOMA-IR decreased by 0.22 per additional minute per session (p = 0.001) and 0.06 per additional weekly minute (p < 0.001). Compared with MICT, LV-HIIT produced greater improvements in insulin sensitivity (SMD = -0.40; 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.09; p = 0.01), with no significant differences in fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, or HOMA-IR.
Why it matters
Time-efficient exercise sessions (under 30 minutes total) can provide glycemic and insulin benefits comparable or superior to traditional moderate-intensity workouts, offering a practical alternative for individuals with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Limits
The abstract does not report total participant counts across trials. Intervention characteristics, interval structures, and study durations varied across included studies. Confounding by concurrent weight loss was noted for insulin outcomes, and long-term adherence and clinical endpoints beyond surrogate biomarkers were not reported.
Cited by
- supports A 2025 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that low-volume HIIT reduced fasting glucose by approximately 17 mg/dL and reduced HbA1c by about 0.7 percentage points, significantly outperforming moderate continuous exercise in improving insulin sensitivity.