Comparison of short-term diet and exercise on insulin action in individuals with abnormal glucose tolerance.
The effects of a 10-day low-calorie diet (LCD; n = 8) or exercise training (ET; n = 8) on insulin secretion and action were compared in obese men (n = 9) and women (n = 7), aged 53 +/- 1 yr, with abnormal glucose tolerance by using a hyperglycemic clamp with superimposed arginine infusion and a high-fat drink. Body mass (LCD, 115 +/- 5 vs. 110 +/- 5 kg; ET, 111 +/- 7 vs. 109 +/- 7 kg; P < 0. 01) and fasting plasma glucose (LCD, 115 +/- 10 vs. 99 +/- 4 mg/dl; ET, 112 +/- 4 vs. 101 +/- 5 mg/dl, P < 0.01) and insulin (LCD, 23.9 +/- 5.6 vs. 15.2 +/- 3.9 microU/ml; ET, 17.6 +/- 1.9 vs. 13.9 +/- 2. 4 microU/ml; P < 0.05) decreased in both groups. There was a 40% reduction in plasma insulin during hyperglycemia (0-45 min) after LCD (peak: 118 +/- 18 vs. 71 +/- 14 microU/ml; P < 0.05) and ET (69 +/- 14 vs. 41 +/- 7 microU/ml; P < 0.05) and trends for reductions during arginine infusion and a high-fat drink. The 56% increase in glucose uptake after ET (4.95 +/- 0.90 vs. 7.74 +/- 0.82 mg. min-1. kg fat-free mass-1; P < 0.01) was significantly (P < 0.01) greater than the 19% increase (5.72 +/- 1.12 vs. 6.80 +/- 0.94 mg. min-1. kg fat-free mass-1; P = not significant) that occurred after LCD. The marked increase in glucose disposal after ET, despite lower insulin levels, suggests that short-term exercise is more effective than diet in enhancing insulin action in individuals with abnormal glucose tolerance.
Arciero
P J
PJ
Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Vukovich
M D
MD
Holloszy
J O
JO
Racette
S B
SB
Kohrt
W M
WM
D001120:Arginine; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D001120:Arginine