Introduction and Purpose: Lack of time is one of the most common barriers to physical activity and exercise in patients with type 2 diabetes, and low-volume high-intensity interval training may be an effective strategy to improve factors associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of low-volume high-intensity interval training on serum adipsin and adropin levels in men with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study with two experimental and control groups, with a pre-test and post-test design. 22 men with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to two low-volume high-intensity interval training (n=11) and control (n=11) groups. Subjects in the experimental groups performed low-volume high-intensity interval training for three sessions per week for eight weeks. Anthropometric measurements and blood sampling were taken from the subjects before and after the intervention. Serum adipsin and adropin levels were measured using specific human ELISA kits.

Results: After eight weeks of low-volume high-intensity interval training, adropin levels in the training group significantly increased (p=0.037) and body fat mass significantly decreased(p=0.046) compared to the control group. No significant differences were observed in adipsin levels (p=0.084), body weight(p=0.083), and body mass index(p=0.072) between the groups.

Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that low-volume high-intensity interval training may be effective in improving body fat mass and adropin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, however, it does not appear to have an effect on adipsin levels.