Acute effects of high-intensity interval exercise vs. concurrent exercise on flow-mediated dilation in college-aged women

Heart disease is the leading cause of female mortality worldwide. As a treatment, exercise can improve cardiac and endothelial function, increase bone mineral density, promote lean muscle mass, and improve pulmonary function. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of two different modes of exercise on flow mediated dilation in the brachial artery in college-aged women. Ten recreationally active women were assigned to either a high intensity interval group (HT) or a group who completed strength exercises and high intensity interval exercise, called the concurrent exercise group (CT). Measurements of flow mediated dilation (i.e., the hyperemic response of a blood vessel post occlusion) were taken at baseline, after one workout session, and after three workout sessions. There were no differences for FDM% or brachial artery diameter across all time points for either training protocol. Neither a combination of high-intensity interval exercise and resistance exercise or high-intensity interval exercise alone acutely led to structural or functional changes in the brachial artery in recreationally active healthy young women.