Influence of continuous and discontinuous training protocols on subcutaneous adipose tissue and plasma substrates

It has been shown that bouts of high-intensity exercise may reduce subcutan eous adipose tissue more than low-intensity exercise. The aim of the presen t study was to examine if a discontinuous training protocol is more success ful in reducing adipose tissue than a continuous endurance training protoco l. Fourteen untrained male volunteers were divided into two groups and trai ned for 10 weeks performing 3 discontinuous or 3 continuous workouts weekly (discontinuous exercise: 25 times 80 s 35 % VO(2)max and 40 s 80 % VO(2)ma x; continuous exercise: 50 min 50 % VO(2)max). The discontinuous and the co ntinuous training resulted in a similar subcutaneous adipose tissue loss, d etermined by skinfold measurement, in the leg above the patella (-2.4 +/- 2 .4 and -2.4 +/- 1.4 mm, respectively). The normalised plasma concentrations of free fatty acid, glycerol, beta -hydroxybutyrate, and lactate were simi lar throughout the final exercise test at the end of the training period. O ur data suggested that the discontinuous protocol, selected so that the ave rage intensity was similar to that of the continuous protocol, was not bett er than the latter in reducing subcutaneous adipose tissue.