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Markers of biological stress in response to a single session of high-intensity interval training and high-volume training in young athletes

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs high-volume training (HVT) on salivary stress markers [cortisol (sC), testosterone (sT), alpha-amylase (sAA)], metabolic and cardiorespiratory response in young athletes.

Methods

Twelve young male cyclists (14 ± 1 years; 57.9 ± 9.4 mL min−1 kg−1 peak oxygen uptake) performed one session of HIIT (4 × 4 min intervals at 90–95 % peak power output separated by 3 min of active rest) and one session of HVT (90 min constant load at 60 % peak power output). The levels of sC, sT, their ratio (sT/sC) and sAA were determined before and 0, 30, 60, 180 min after each intervention. Metabolic and cardiorespiratory stress was characterized by blood lactate, blood pH, respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (\(V_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}\)), ventilation (V E) and ventilatory equivalent (V E/\(V_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}\)).

Results

sC increased 30 and 60 min after HIIT. However, 180 min post exercise, sC decreased below baseline levels in both conditions. sT increased 0 and 30 min after HIIT and 0 min after HVT. sAA and sT/sC ratio did not change significantly over time in HIIT nor HVT. Metabolic and cardiorespiratory stress, evidenced by blood lactate, HR, \(V_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}\), V E, and V E/\(V_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}\) was higher during HIIT compared to HVT.

Conclusion

The metabolic and cardiorespiratory stress during HIIT was higher compared to HVT, but based on salivary analyses (cortisol, testosterone, alpha-amylase), we conclude no strong acute catabolic effects neither by HIIT nor by HVT.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

HIIT:

High-intensity interval training

HR:

Heart rate

HVT:

High-volume training

RER:

Respiratory exchange ratio

SD:

Standard deviation

sC:

Salivary cortisol

sT:

Salivary testosterone

sAA:

Salivary alpha-amylase

\(V_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}\) :

Oxygen uptake

V E :

Ventilation

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the children who participated in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Yvonne Kilian, Patrick Wahl, Silvia Achtzehn & Joachim Mester

  2. The German Research Centre of Elite Sport, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Yvonne Kilian, Patrick Wahl, Silvia Achtzehn & Joachim Mester

  3. Research Centre for School Sports and the Physical Education of Children and Young Adults, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Florian Engel

  4. Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Patrick Wahl

  5. Integrative and Experimental Exercise Science, Department of Sport Science, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Billy Sperlich

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  1. Yvonne Kilian
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  2. Florian Engel
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Correspondence to Yvonne Kilian.

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Communicated by Fabio Fischetti.

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Kilian, Y., Engel, F., Wahl, P. et al. Markers of biological stress in response to a single session of high-intensity interval training and high-volume training in young athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 2177–2186 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3467-y

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