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
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
Rob M
RM
Van Dam
Albertine J
AJ
Schuit
Edith J M
EJ
Feskens
Jaap C
JC
Seidell
Daan
D
Kromhout
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