title: Even low-intensity and low-volume exercise training may improve insulin resistance in the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Moderate to high intensity exercise training is known to ameliorate the coronary risk factors in relation to an improvement in body composition. However, the benefit of low-intensity and low-volume training for these risk factors remains unclear in elderly people. Therefore, we investigated the effects of low-intensity and low-volume exercise training on blood lipid values and insulin resistance in the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 56 healthy elderly individuals (42 females and 14 males) aged 64+/-6 years participated in a 12-week exercise program, comprising aerobic training and resistance training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the program, there were no significant changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride serum levels, or in peak oxygen uptake on average. However, the homeostasis of minimal assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) value was significantly reduced by 21%. The participants were categorized into tertiles based on initial Body Mass Index (BMI). The Middle-BMI group (non-obese subjects) showed reduced HOMA-IR (2.0-->1.3, P<0.01), but this reduction was not associated with the reduction in BMI (r=0.08, P=0.74), whereas the two reductions were significantly associated in the High-BMI group (r=0.61, P=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even low-intensity and low-volume exercise training, which would ordinarily be insufficient for improving mean lipid values or aerobic fitness, was found to be effective in improving insulin resistance in the elderly. The improvement in insulin resistance was independent of the improvement in obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tsukuba.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Kiyoji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ajisaka
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Onitake
authors.forename: Akimitsu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimano
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids