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Short bursts of intense physical exercise could lead to better long-term
health, a new study has suggested.
Doing just 12 minutes of cardio a day prompts a positive effect on metabolic
reactions in the body, which have been linked to more favourable health
outcomes in the future, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital
discovered.
Small but powerful workout sessions induce a positive change in the body's
levels of metabolites, an intermediate or end product of metabolism, which
is associated with cardiometabolic and cardiovascular health.
The team analysed data from the Framingham Heart Study, which measured the
levels of circulating metabolites before and immediately after 12 minutes of
vigorous exercise in more than 400 middle-aged men and women.
Scientists spotted favourable shifts in the number of metabolites, and
glutamate, a key metabolite linked to heart disease and diabetes, fell by 29
per cent after the intense workout.
And DMGV, a metabolite associated with increased risk of diabetes and liver
disease, dropped by 18 per cent.
By studying the long-term effects of metabolic responses to exercise,
researchers were able to predict the state of an individual's health in the
future, and how long they are likely to live.
Senior author Dr. Gregory Lewis said the study provided a comprehensive look
at the metabolic impact of exercise.
"What was striking to us was the effects a brief bout of exercise can have
on the circulating levels of metabolites that govern such key bodily
functions as insulin resistance, oxidative stress, vascular reactivity,
inflammation and longevity," he explained.
