Physical activity and glucose tolerance in elderly men: the Zutphen Elderly study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether physical activity is associated with glucose tolerance in the elderly.


METHODS
We examined current and 5-yr change in physical activity in relation to glucose tolerance in 424 randomly selected male inhabitants of the Dutch town Zutphen, aged 69-89 yr, without known diabetes mellitus. Physical activity was assessed by a validated questionnaire designed for retired men. Glucose intolerance was assessed by an oral glucose tolerance test and defined as impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus.


RESULTS
Men with 30 min x d(-1) or more of physical activity of at least moderate intensity had a lower prevalence of glucose intolerance as compared to men without these activities (age-adjusted odds ratio 0.32; 95% CI, 0.18-0.57). Adjustment for family history of diabetes, smoking, alcohol intake, dietary factors, body mass index, and subscapular skin-fold thickness or exclusion of men with cardiovascular diseases or disabilities did not substantially change the results. With specific activities modeled simultaneously, bicycling (P for trend = 0.01) and gardening (P for trend = 0.02) were inversely associated with glucose intolerance. Men whose amount of physical activity had decreased during the past 5 yr had significantly higher age-adjusted 2-h glucose concentrations as compared with men who remained at least as active (difference 0.7 mmol x L(-1); 95% CI, 0.1-1.3).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that common types of physical activity such as bicycling and gardening may contribute to the prevention of glucose intolerance in elderly men
Van Dam
Rob M
RM
Department of Chronic Diseases Epidemiology and Division of Public Health Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. rob.van.dam@rivm.nl
Schuit
Albertine J
AJ
Feskens
Edith J M
EJ
Seidell
Jaap C
JC
Kromhout
Daan
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose