News & Research
Bell, Christopher , PhD
Short-term sprint-interval training and metabolic regulation in adult humans
Focus: Exercise Human, Exercise Regulation of Muscle Metabolism, Insulin Action-Insulin Resistance
Type of Grant: Basic Science
Project Start Date: January 1, 2009
Project End Date: December 31, 2011
Research Description
Funded by the Order of the Amaranth
Endurance exercise training is associated with superior metabolic regulation in adult humans. Important examples include increased control of blood sugar and energy balance. Despite the enormous potential health benefits of endurance exercise training many adults chose not to participate, citing insufficient time as a perceived overriding obstacle. Thus, an alternative program of exercise that may elicit favorable metabolic adaptations without requiring such an appreciable time commitment is very attractive and worthy of investigation. Short-term sprint-interval training may elicit similar metabolic adaptations to endurance exercise training. Accordingly, the general aim of this proposed series of studies is to investigate the hypothesis that short-term sprint-interval training will improve metabolic regulation.
Reseacher Profile
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes? The focus of our research project is insulin sensitivity, that is, how well insulin is able regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) circulating in blood. Our project may provide support for the effectiveness of a short-term program of very high-intensity exercise to increase insulin sensitivity. People at risk of developing diabetes may obtain significant health benefits from only 17 minutes of exercise spread out over two weeks.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond? Endurance exercise training is associated with superior metabolic regulation in adult humans. Two important examples include increased insulin sensitivity (how well insulin is able regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) circulating in blood) and greater help from the nervous system when trying to burn excess calories. Despite the enormous potential health benefits of endurance exercise training many adults chose not to participate, citing insufficient time as a perceived overriding obstacle. Thus, an alternative program of exercise that may elicit favorable metabolic adaptations without requiring such an appreciable time commitment is very attractive and worthy of investigation. Short-term sprint-interval training may elicit similar metabolic adaptations to endurance exercise training. Accordingly, the overall aim of this project is to investigate the influence of short-term sprint-interval training on insulin sensitivity and nervous system support metabolism. If our hypotheses are supported then a person with diabetes may be able to obtain similar metabolic benefits from brief bouts of very high-intensity exercise as others gain from prolonged endurance exercise.
Why is it important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play in your research efforts? Diabetes affects millions of people in the US and beyond. It is personally very gratifying to be able to undertake research that is both intellectually stimulating and might also help prevent, or at least slow the progression of, diabetes.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going? I see future diabetes research moving in two important directions: 1) Prevention - people who are overweight or obese are at serious risk of developing diabetes. Given the number of people in the US who are overweight then helping to prevent these adults from developing diabetes should be a high priority. 2) Treatment - the number of people currently affected by diabetes is enormous, thus the development of practical and effective treatments is of obvious clinical importance.
