Table 1

Studies and PICO

Study (A–Z)Participants
N, status, gender
Exercise type,
HIIT work interval intensity, MICT intensity
Sessions week-1WeeksOutcomes
Ciolac et al6422 healthy ♀Treadmill walking or running
HIIT: 80%–90% VO2MAX, MICT: 60%–70% VO2MAX
316TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Connolly et al6530 healthy ♀Ergocycle
HIIT: 30–<100% sprint, MICT: 70%–85% HRPEAK
312TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C
Cuddy et al6627 Ov–Ob ♀♂Ergocycle
HIIT: 100% sprint; MICT: 40%–65% HRR
HIIT: 2–4
MICT: 3–5
8TRG, HDL-C
Fisher et al7623 Ov–Ob ♂Ergocycle
HIIT: 85% sprint, MICT: 55%–65% VO2PEAK
HIIT: 3
MICT: 5
6TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Hwang et al6729 Ov ♀♂All-extremity ergometer
HIIT: 90% HRPEAK, MICT: 70% HRPEAK
48TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Keating et al6822 Ov ♀♂Ergocycle
HIIT: 120% VO2PEAK, MICT: 50%–65% VO2PEAK
312TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Kemmler et al2465 Ov–MetS ♂Running
HIIT: 95%–110% HRIAT*, MICT: 70%–82.5% HRIAT*
2–416TRG, HDL-C
Kong et al6926 Ob♀Ergocycle
HIIT: max VO2PEAK, MICT: 60%–80% VO2PEAK
45TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Lee, et al a6120 healthy ♂Ergocyle
HIIT: 85%–90% VO2MAX, MICT: not stated
34TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Lee, et al b6118 healthy ♂Ergocycle
HIIT: 85%–90% VO2MAX, MICT: not stated
34TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Lira et al7020 healthy ♂Treadmill
HIIT: 100% sVO2PEAK, MICT: 70% sVO2PEAK
35TC, TRG, HDL-C
Maillard et al7716 Ov–Ob, T2D♀Ergocycle
HIIT: 80% MHR, MICT: 55%–60% target HR
216TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C
Matsuo et al7526 Ov–MetS ♂Ergocycle
HIIT: 85% VO2PEAK, MICT: 60%–65% VO2PEAK
38TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C
Mohr et al7142 hours, Ov ♀Free-style swimming
HIIT: 85%–95% MHR, MICT: 72%–79% MHR
315TC, HDL-C, LDL-C
Morales-Palermo et al a6250 MetS♀♂Ergocycle
HIIT4: 90% MHR, MICT: 70% MHR
316TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Morales-Palermo et al b6249 MetS♀♂Ergocycle
HIIT1:100% MHR, MICT: 70% MHR
316TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Moreira et al7216 Ob ♀♂Ergocycle
HIIT: 60%–72% VO2MAX, MICT: 55%–66% VO2MAX
312TC, TRG
Nybo et al7317 healthy ♂Running
HIIT: 85% VO2MAX, MICT: 65% VO2MAX
312TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C
Ramos et al5832 MetS, T2D ♀♂Walking/running, ergocycle/cycling, swimming
HIIT: 85%–95% HRPEAK, MICT: 60%–70% HRPEAK
HIIT: 3
MICT: 5
16TRG, HDL-C
Ruffino et al7816 Ov–Ob, T2D ♂Ergocycle, walking
HIIT: 80%–90% MHR, MICT: 50%–55% HRR
HIIT: 3
MICT: 5
8TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Sawyer et al7918 Ob ♀♂Ergocycle
HIIT: 90%–95% MHR, MICT: 70%–75% MHR
38TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Shepherd et al7478 Ov ♀♂Ergocycle
HIIT:>90% MHR, MICT: 70% MHR
HIIT: 3
MICT: 5
10TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C
Thomas et al a6314 healthy ♂Running
HIIT: 90%–100% MHR, MICT: 75%–85% MHR
311TC, HDL-C
Thomas et al b6314 healthy ♂Running
HIIT: 90%–100% MHR, MICT: 75%–85% MHR
311TC, HDL-C
Tjønna et al5519 MetS ♀♂Treadmill walking and running
HIIT: 90% MHR, MICT: 70% MHR
38TRG, HDL-C
Vella et al2517 Ov–Ob ♀♂Treadmill, ergocycle, elliptical
HIIT: 75%–80% HRR, MICT: 55%–59% HRR
48TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Winding et al8025 Ov, T2D ♀♂Ergocycle
HIIT: 95% WPEAK, MICT: 50% WPEAK
311TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Winn et al8116 Ob ♀♂†Treadmill walking and running
HIIT: 80% VO2PEAK, MICT: 55% VO2PEAK
44TC, TRG, HDL-C, LDL-C
Zhang et al8224 Ob ♀Treadmill running
HIIT: 50%–95% HRPEAK, MICT: 60%–70% HRPEAK
412TC, TRG
  • *HRIAT—HR at indvidual aerobic thershold IAt (minimum lactate 2.0 mmol/L).

  • †Assumed. Gender not specified.

  • HDL-C, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HIIT, High intensity interval training; HR, Heart rate; HRPEAK, Peak heart rate; HRR, Heart rate reserve; IAT, individual anaerobic threshold; LDL-C, Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MetS, Metabolic Syndrome; MHR, maximal heart rate; MICT, Moderate intensity continuous training; Ob, Obesity; Ov, Overweight; PICO, Participants, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome; TC, Total cholesterol; T2D, Type 2 diabetes mellitus; TRG, Triglycerides; VO2PEAK,VO2MAX, Peak oxygen consumption; WPEAK, Workload or watts.