Lack of effect of short-term interval training on kidney function in obese adolescent females

Obesity is a major independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is recognized as an interesting therapeutic strategy in managing obesity and related disorders. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about its impact on kidney function. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of the HIIT program on kidney function and erythrocyte parameters in overweight/obese women.

Thirty-three overweight/obese young women (age, 17.0 ± 1.15 yrs.; body mass index, 33.3 ± 4.77 kg/m²) were allocated into HIIT (n = 17) or control (n = 16) groups. The HIIT program was performed 3 times a week for nine weeks. Body composition parameters, blood creatinine, blood urea, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), serum electrolytes (i.e., sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium), and red blood cell parameters (i.e., red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume) were collected before the start and after the completion of the training.

Nine weeks of HIIT significantly improved (p < 0.01) body mass index, body fat, and waist circumference, but the auhtors found no statistically significant changes in blood creatinine, urea, eGFR, and red blood cell parameters (p > 0.05). No variable changed in the control group.

HIIT improved body composition; however, no significant changes in renal function parameters were detected in this underpowered study.