Low intensity endurance exercise targeted for lipid oxidation improves body composition and insulin sensitivity in patients with the metabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the effects of individualized training on the metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients, suffering from the metabolic syndrome were studied before and after 2 months of training and compared to eleven patients who did not follow any training. All the patients were overweight. Training was individualized at the point where fat oxidation was maximal (LIPOX(max)) as determined by calorimetry.


RESULTS
The patients exhibited a significant reduction in body weight (- 2.6 +/- 0.7 kg; P=0.002), fat mass (- 1.55 +/- 0.5 kg; P=0.009), waist (- 3.53 +/- 1.3 cm; P<0.05) and hip (- 2.21 +/- 0.9 cm; P<0.05) circumferences, and improved the ability to oxidize lipids at exercise (crossover point: + 31.7 +/- 5.8 W; P<0.0001; LIPOX(max): + 23.5 +/- 5.6 W; P<0.0001; lipid oxidation: + 68.5 +/- 15.4 mg.min(-1); P=0.0001). No clear improvement in either lipid parameters or fibrinogen were observed. The surrogates of insulin sensitivity evidenced a decrease in insulin resistance: HOMA%S (software): + 72.93 +/- 32.64; p<0.05; HOMA-IR (simplified formula): - 2.42 +/- 1.07; P<0.05; QUICKI: + 0.02 +/- 0.004; P<0.01; SI=40/I: + 3.28 +/- 1.5; P<0.05. Significant correlations were found between changes in body weight and HOMA-IR and between changes in LIPOX(max) and QUICKI.


CONCLUSIONS
Individualized aerobic training improves lipid oxidation, body composition and insulin resistance.
Dumortier
M
M
Service Central de Physiologie Clinique, Centre d'Exploration et de Réadaptation des Anomalies du Métabolisme Musculaire, CHU Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France.
Brandou
F
F
Perez-Martin
A
A
Fedou
C
C
Mercier
J
J
Brun
J F
JF
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008066:Lipolysis; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss
D001786:Blood Glucose