Gender differences in insulin action after a single bout of exercise.
Effects of a single exercise bout on insulin action were compared in men (n = 10) and women (n = 10). On an exercise day, subjects cycled for 90 min at 85% lactate threshold, whereas on a rest (control) day, they remained semirecumbent. The period of exercise, or rest, was followed by a 3-h hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (30 mU.m(-2).min(-1)) and indirect calorimetry. Glucose kinetics were measured isotopically by using an infusion of [6,6-2H2]glucose. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) during the clamp on the rest day was not different between the genders. However, GIR on the exercise day was significantly lower in men compared with women (P = 0.01). This was mainly due to a significantly lower glucose rate of disappearance in men compared with women (P = 0.05), whereas no differences were observed in the endogenous glucose rate of appearance. Nonprotein respiratory quotient (NPRQ) increased significantly during the clamp from preclamp measurements in men and women on the rest day (P < 0.01). Exercise abolished the increase in NPRQ seen during the clamp on the rest day and tended to decrease NPRQ in men. Our results indicate the following: 1) exercise abolishes the usual increase in NPRQ observed during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in both genders, 2) men exhibit relatively lower whole body insulin action in the 3-4 h after exercise compared with women, and 3) gender differences in insulin action may be explained by a lower glucose rate of disappearance in the men after acute exercise. Together, these data imply gender differences in insulin action postexercise exist in peripheral tissues and not in liver.
Perreault
Leigh
L
Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. leigh.perreault@colorado.edu
Lavely
Jennifer M
JM
Bergman
Bryan C
BC
Horton
Tracy J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique / Q000379:methods*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin