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HIITEvidence & Dosage

High-Intensity Interval Training, VO2max, and mitochondrial biogenesis.

Studies last updated

Evidence at a glance

Total studies
1,000
With abstract
46
Meta / Systematic / RCT
160
Highly cited
50
Publication years
1975–2026

HIIT in the context of Methods

This topic is part of our "Methods" world. There you'll find methodology, evidence and the highest-impact levers — plus the order in which they sensibly build on each other.

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Top studies on HIIT

Ranked by influential-citation count and publication year.

  1. Effects of Exercise Training on Mitochondrial and Capillary Growth in Human Skeletal Muscle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression.

    Sports Med2025n=597meta200 influential citations

    BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle mitochondria and capillaries are crucial for aerobic fitness, and suppressed levels are associated with chronic and age-related diseases. Currently, evidence-based exercise training recommendations to enhance…

  2. Is low-volume high-intensity interval training a time-efficient strategy to improve cardiometabolic health and body composition? A meta-analysis.

    Appl Physiol Nutr Metab2024n=849Meta-Analysis164 influential citations

    The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT; i.e., ≤5 min high-intensity exercise within a ≤15 min session) on cardiometabolic health and body composition. A systematic…

  3. Effects of various exercise types on visceral adipose tissue in individuals with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 84 randomized controlled trials.

    Obes Rev2024n=483Meta-Analysis147 influential citations

    The purpose of this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to investigate the effects of various exercise categories on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and other anthropometric variables…

  4. Effects of high-intensity functional training on physical fitness and sport-specific performance among the athletes: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

    PLoS One2023n=478Meta-Analysis112 influential citations

    Objective This study aims to meta-analyze the impact of high-intensity functional training on athletes’ physical fitness and sport-specific performance. Methods A systematic search was conducted in five well-known academic databases…

  5. Endurance Performance Adaptations between SSG and HIIT in Soccer Players: A Meta-analysis.

    Int J Sports Med2024n=20Meta-Analysis108 influential citations

    The objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to compare the endurance performance chronic adaptations induced by running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT), small-sided games (SSGs), and combined HIIT+SSGs in…

    Finding: This meta-analysis found a non-significant small-magnitude favoring effect for HIIT over SSGs on endurance performance.

  6. Effectiveness of high-intensity interval training on peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

    Scand J Med Sci Sports2024n=656Meta-Analysis101 influential citations

    <h4>Background</h4>High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has emerged as an alternative training method to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, a crucial molecule involved in plastic brain changes. Its effect compared…

  7. Physiological adaptations and performance enhancement with combined blood flow restricted and interval training: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

    J Sport Health Sci2025n=621Meta-Analysis97 influential citations

    <h4>Purpose</h4>We aimed to determine: (a) the chronic effects of interval training (IT) combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) on physiological adaptations (aerobic/anaerobic capacity and muscle responses) and performance enhancement…

  8. Process evaluation of school-based high-intensity interval training interventions for children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

    BMC Public Health2024n=77Meta-Analysis88 influential citations

    <h4>Background</h4>Several systematic reviews have been published to investigate the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in schools. However, there has been limited attention given to understanding the functioning of…

  9. Effects of various exercise types on inflammatory response in individuals with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

    Int J Obes (Lond)2025n=123Meta-Analysis77 influential citations

    <h4>Objective</h4>To explore effective exercise types for reducing chronic inflammation in individuals with overweight and obesity (IOO) while accounting for confounders.<h4>Methods</h4>A systematic search for RCTs in English between…

  10. Aerobic Exercise Prescription for Pain Reduction in Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

    Eur J Pain2025n=109Meta-Analysis77 influential citations

    <h4>Background and objective</h4>Fibromyalgia is a condition characterised by disabling levels of pain of varying intensity. Aerobic exercise may play a role in reducing pain in these patients. The aim of this review is to assess the dose…

Frequently asked

What dosage was studied?
• Exercise training interventions: low/moderate-intensity continuous endurance training (ET), high-intensity interval or continuous training (HIT), and sprint interval training (SIT) (Varied exercise training dose across included studies; higher frequency associated with larger effects (6 > 4 > 2 sessions/week)) • Low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT; ≤5 min high-intensity exercise within a ≤15 min session) (≤5 min high-intensity exercise within a ≤15 min session) • Various exercise categories: aerobic exercise (AE), resistance training (RT), AE combined with RT (AE+RT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (At least moderate-intensity AE; vigorous-intensity AE ranked highest; specific exercise doses not reported in abstract)
Are there safety considerations for HIIT?
• Not reported in the abstract. • No adverse events reported in the abstract. • Not reported • Not reported in abstract.

Related articles

Blog

HIIT: Effects & Evidence Base — What’s Supported and What’s Not

Overview of HIIT: Which effects are well supported by meta-analyses (VO2max, cognition, sport), and where is the evidence thin? Evidence hierarchy & practical pitfalls.

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