The Comparison of Eight Weeks of HIIT and BFR on Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Angiogenesis Markers in Vastus Lateralis Muscle of Amateur Male Runners

Post-exercise Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) is a novel training method that, through alterations to the haemodynamic, metabolic, and hypoxic stimulus, could augment skeletal muscle adaptation in endurance-trained individuals. This study aimed to compare the effect of eight weeks of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and BFR on PGC-1α and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) as mitochondrial biogenesis and angiogenesis biomarkers, respectively, in amateur male runners.

In the current study, 15 runners (Meas±SD of age: 23±3 years; height: 172±5 cm; weight: 73±4 kg: BMI: 23±1.7 kg/m2) voluntarily participating in this study were divided into three groups: 1-Control 2-HIIT and 3-HIIT+BFR or BFR. The experimental groups performed three sessions a week (six trials each session) for eight weeks. The biopsy samples were collected from the vastus lateralis muscle at the first and end of eight weeks. The protein expression levels of the PGC-1α and VEGF were studied by immunohistochemical method. Data analysis was performed using the one-way Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), and a significance level of P<0.05 was considered.

The findings showed that PGC-1α values were significantly increased in the HIIT and BFR groups (54.9% and 60.85%, respectively) compared to the control group, as well as VEGF levels were 51.31% and 57.52%, respectively (P<0.05). There were also significant differences between experimental groups in the protein expressions (P<0.05).

Given that activation of VEGF from the PGC-1 pathway is part of cellular-molecular mechanisms of high-intensity interval training, It seems that the combination of intense interval training and BFR can effectively affect the process of angiogenesis in the vastus lateralis muscle of amateur runners.