Poster only 3rd Metabolic Diseases; Breakthrough Discoveries in Diabetes & Obesity 2022

Fasting blood glucose and lactate levels following high-intensity interval exercise in normoxia and hypoxia for males with normal and overweight (#79)

Li Peng 1 2 , Zhenhuan Wang 1 2 , Jia Li 1 2 , Yanchun Li 3 , Julian M Rith 4 , Jan I Berzbach 4 , Jujiao Kuang 2 5 , David J Bishop 2 , Xu Yan 2 5 6
  1. College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
  2. Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
  4. Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences, Hochschule Furtwangen University, Furtwangen im Schwarzwald , Germany
  5. Sarcopenia Research Program, Australia Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences (AIMSS), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  6. Department of Medicine - Western Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Exercise in the fasted state and hypoxia exposure have both been shown to influence blood glucose and lactate metabolism. The aim of this study was to compare the response of fasting blood glucose and lactate levels to a single session of HIIE in normoxia and hypoxia for men with a BMI<25 (healthy) and those with a BMI>25 (overweight).

Thirteen men (6 with a healthy BMI and 7 overweight) participated in this study. Participants completed three HIIE sessions while fasting, including one in hypoxia (HY) and two in normoxia (one matched for the absolute exercise intensity in hypoxia, designated as NA, and one matched for the relative exercise intensity in hypoxia, designated as NR).

There was an increase in blood glucose level immediately post HIIE in HY (p=0.004), with the blood glucose level significantly different between the NA and HY sessions (p=0.001). When participants were categorised into healthy BMI and overweight groups,  the blood glucose level immediately post the HIIE in HY was lower in overweight men when compared with men with a healthy BMI (p=0.05). There was an increase in blood lactate levels immediately post the 3 HIIE sessions (p<0.001); the blood lactate levels were significantly higher immediately post the HY and NR interventions (p<0.001), when compared with that of NA. When participants were categorised into healthy BMI and overweight groups,  the blood lactate levels were lower in overweight men when compared with men with a healthy BMI immediately post the HIIE in HY (p=0.003).

Conclusion: HIIE combined with hypoxia led to a significant increase in fasting blood glucose and lactate level immediately post exercise. Interestingly, overweight men showed lower blood glucose and lactate levels immediately post the HIIE in HY, when compared with men with a healthy BMI. More participants are being recruited to confirm the current findings.