Does HIIT Boost Your Metabolism as Physical Trainers Claim?

Does HIIT boost your metabolism?  Should it be a regular part of your weekly workout schedule? Physical trainers regularly promise that this is a far more efficient way to spend your gym time than traditional cardio workout patterns.  Let’s take a closer look at what the science says about high intensity interval training.

Will HIIT Boost Your Metabolism?

Research has been taking a close look at how HIIT will boost your metabolism over the last few years.  These workouts have become highly popular and have placed them into science’s spotlight.

A recent study showed that it is possible for HIIT to boost your metabolism. The reason is that it helps to increase the proteins in skeletal muscle which are central to energy use and muscle contraction. Moreover, this type of workout also appears to chemically alter key metabolic proteins.  As a result, not only does this show that your metabolic rate can increase as a result of these workouts, but it also provides an understanding of the mechanism behind it.

Looking at the Research

Exercising in general is already helpful to the metabolic rate.  It helps to support weight control, treats and prevents metabolic diseases, and changes the way skeletal muscles use energy, among many other physical and mental health benefits.  By understanding how the muscle protein content is affected by different workouts, researchers gained a better grasp on how HIIT boosts your metabolism.

Therefore, scientists have been researching a chemical reaction called acetylation.  This is a process that occurs when an acetyl group molecule combines with other molecules, leading to an altered behavior in the proteins those molecules make up.

In a preliminary study involving eight healthy, untrained male participants, the men were required to complete five weeks of high-intensity cycle training.  They completed three workouts per week, finishing four minutes of cycling at a target heart rate over 90 percent of their maximum rate. This was followed by a two-minute rest.  The pattern was repeated four or five times per exercise session.

The researchers employed mass spectrometry to analyze the composition of 3,168 tissue sample proteins. Those samples had been collected from the thighs of the participants before and after the study. The researchers also examined the changes linked with 1,263 lysine acetyl-sites on 464 acetylated proteins.

Conclusions About HIIT and How it Boosts Your Metabolism

They found that the proteins used for building mitochondria increased in the participants after the workouts. There was also an increase in the proteins associated with muscle contractions. The scientists also spotted a rise in acetylation of mitochondrial proteins and enzymes central to cellular energy production. Furthermore, they discovered that proteins reducing skeletal muscle calcium sensitivity were also altered. Those are critical to muscle contraction.

They concluded that HIIT boosts your metabolism as the processes that take place within muscular proteins adapts to the form of training. They recommended further research into this fascinating area.