NCT07311460

HIIT, Steroid Hormones and Mental Health in Adolescents

The Effects of High-intensity Interval Training on Selected Steroid Hormones and Psychological Features in Healthy Male Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 28 (actual)
• Sponsor: High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 14 Years – 16 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of study was to investigate the effect of a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), hormonal, and mental health markers in male adolescents. The main question it aims to answer is: Does HIIT improve CRF, hormonal (testosterone and cortisol levels, testosterone:cortisol ratio), and mental health (depression, anxiety and stress scores) markers. Researchers will compare HIIT (designed to experimental group) to non-training intervention (designed to control group) to see if the training program works to improve the health status. HIIT consisted of three sessions per week for 10 weeks, comprising of three sets of four to eight bouts of 30-s runs at high intensity \[100-110% of maximal aerobic speed (MAS)\], interspersed with 30-s recovery runs at low intensity (50% of MAS) between bouts.

Detailed description

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time-efficient method for improving physical fitness in youth. However, limited evidence exists regarding its effects on testosterone and cortisol levels, testosterone:cortisol ratio, and mental health outcomes during adolescence, a critical period of development. This study was to investigate the effect of a HIIT intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF, expressed as maximal aerobic speed and maximal oxygen consumption), hormonal, and mental health markers in male adolescents. Twenty-eight healthy male adolescents (age, 14.9±0.74 yrs.) were randomized to a HIIT group (HIITG, n=15) or a non-training control group (CG, n=13). HIIT consisted of three sessions per week for 10 weeks, comprising of three sets of four to eight bouts of 30-s runs at high intensity \[100-110% of maximal aerobic speed (MAS)\], interspersed with 30-s recovery runs at low intensity (50% MAS) between bouts. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included CRF (VO2max), hormonal markers (testosterone, cortisol, and testosterone:cortisol ratio), and mental health markers (depression, anxiety and stress scores).

Conditions

• Hormone

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	High-intensity interval training (HIIT) program	The HIIT program consisted of three sessions per week for 10 weeks, comprising of three sets of four to eight bouts of 30-s runs at high intensity \[100-110% of maximal aerobic speed (MAS)\], interspersed with 30-s recovery runs at low intensity (50% MAS) between bouts.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-11-01
• Primary completion: 2025-01-25
• Completion: 2025-01-25
• First posted: 2025-12-31
• Last updated: 2025-12-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Tunisia