Effect of High Intensity Interval Training and Honey Consumption on some Inflammatory Indices in Sedentary Subjects

The sedentary lifestyle has been introduced as one of the main causes of disease and a predictor of morbidity and mortality. Inflammation is an essential contributor to the pathogenesis of diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training and honey consumption on IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-a levels in sedentary individuals.

Thirty-eight young, healthy and inactive men were assigned to one of the following interventions: Exercise+placebo (EP), Exercise+Supplement (ES), Supplement (S) and Placebo (P). Subjects in the exercise groups underwent a supervised HIIT program over 8 weeks. Exercise at each session comprised 2 min high intensity training with the intensity of 80-90% of heart rate max interspersed by low-intensity intervals of walking for 1 minute. Throughout the study, the subjects in supplement groups received 5 cc/kg body mass of 13% honey dissolved in plain water within 30-60 min before each exercise session. The subjects in placebo groups were administered with an equal volume of water solution with 5 gr sucrose. Before and 72h after the experimental period blood samples were collected to assess plasma levels of IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-a.

We observed that IL-6 levels significantly decreased in ES and E groups from pretest to posttest and there was a significant difference between the ES and control groups (Pvalue=0.023). However, no significant changes were observed for IL-12 and TNF-a (Pvalue> 0.05).

HIIT program along with honey consumption over 8 weeks could have favorable effects on inflammatory indices such as IL-6 in subjects with sedentary life-style.