Oxygen consumption, substrate oxidation, and blood pressure following sprint interval exercise.

UNLABELLED: This study examined the acute effect of sprint interval exercise (SIE) on postexercise oxygen consumption, substrate oxidation, and blood pressure. The participants were 10 healthy males aged 21-27 years. Following overnight fasts, each participant undertook 2 trials in a random balanced order: (i) four 30-s bouts of SIE on a cycle ergometer, separated by 4.5 min of recovery, and (ii) resting (control) in the laboratory for an equivalent period. Time-matched measurements of oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, and blood pressure were made for 2 h into recovery. Total 2-h oxygen consumption was significantly higher in the SIE than in the control trial (mean ± SD: CONTROL: 31.9 ± 6.7 L vs Exercise: 45.5 ± 6.8 L, p < 0.001). The rate of fat oxidation was 75% higher 2 h after the exercise trial compared with the control trial ( CONTROL: 0.08 ± 0.05 g·min(-1) vs Exercise: 0.14 ± 0.06 g·min(-1), p = 0.035). Systolic blood pressure ( CONTROL: 117 ± 8 mm Hg vs Exercise: 109 ± 8 mm Hg, p < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure ( CONTROL: 84 ± 6 mm Hg vs Exercise: 77 ± 5 mm Hg, p < 0.05) were significantly lower 2 h after the exercise trial compared with the control trial. These data showed a 42% increase in oxygen consumption (∼13.6 L) over 2 h after a single bout of SIE. Moreover, the rate of fat oxidation increased by 75%, whereas blood pressure was reduced by ∼8 mm Hg 2 h after SIE. Whether these acute benefits of SIE can translate into long-term changes in body composition and an improvement in vascular health needs investigation.