Effects of short‐lasting supramaximal‐intensity exercise on diet‐induced increase in oxygen uptake

This study was undertaken to quantify the additional increase in diet‐induced oxygen uptake after exhaustive high‐intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE), consisting of 6–7 bouts of 20‐sec bicycle exercise (intensity: 170% [Formula: see text]) with a 10‐sec rest between bouts. Using a metabolic chamber, the oxygen uptake of ten men was measured from 10:30 am to 07:00 am the next day on two separate days with or without HIIE, with lunch (12:00) and supper (18:00) (Diet experiment). On two other days, the oxygen uptake of six different subjects was measured from 10:30 to 16:00 with or without HIIE, but without meals (Fasting experiment). Ten minutes of exercise at 50% [Formula: see text] preceded the HIIE in both experiments; EPOC (excess postexercise oxygen consumption) after HIIE was found to wear off before 12:00 in both experiments. In the Diet experiment, oxygen uptake during HIIE and EPOC were 123.4 ± 12.0 and 115.3 ± 32.3 mL·kg(−1), respectively. Meals elevated resting oxygen uptake on both days, but those on the HIIE day were significantly higher than on the control day. This enhanced diet‐induced oxygen uptake (difference in resting oxygen uptake from 12:00–23:00 between HIIE and control day: ΔDIT) was 146.1 ± 90.9 mL·kg(−1), comparable to the oxygen uptake during the HIIE and EPOC. The ΔDIT was correlated with subjects’ [Formula: see text] (52.1 ± 6.6 mL·kg(−1)·min(−1)) (r = 0.76, n = 10, P < 0.05). We concluded that HIIE enhances diet‐induced oxygen uptake significantly, and that it is related to the cardiorespiratory fitness.