Sprint interval and moderate-intensity continuous training have equal benefits on aerobic capacity, insulin sensitivity, muscle capillarisation and endothelial eNOS/NAD(P)Hoxidase protein ratio in obese men.

Key points Skeletal muscle capillary density and vasoreactivity are reduced in obesity, due to reduced nitric oxide bioavailability., Sprint interval training (SIT) has been proposed as a time efficient alternative to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), but its effect on the skeletal muscle microvasculature has not been studied in obese individuals., We observed that SIT and MICT led to equal increases in capillarisation and endothelial eNOS content, while reducing endothelial NOX2 content in microvessels of young obese men., We conclude that SIT is equally effective at improving skeletal muscle capillarisation and endothelial enzyme balance, while being a time efficient alternative to traditional MICT., Abstract Sprint interval training (SIT) has been proposed as a time efficient alternative to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), leading to similar improvements in skeletal muscle capillary density and microvascular function in young healthy humans. In this study we made the first comparisons of the muscle microvascular response to SIT and MICT in an obese population. Sixteen young obese men (age 25 ± 1 years, BMI 34.8 ± 0.9 kg m⁻²) were randomly assigned to 4 weeks of MICT (40-60 min cycling at ∼65% [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]