Short-term exercise improves beta-cell function and insulin resistance in older people with impaired glucose tolerance.
BACKGROUND
There is a high prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in the older population. Normal aging is associated with insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion, with greater defects in people with IGT. Short-term exercise has been found to increase insulin sensitivity, but little is known about acute exercise effects on beta-cell function in older people with IGT.


METHODS
We assessed the effects of 7 consecutive days of supervised aerobic exercise (1 h/d at 60-70% heart rate reserve) in 12 sedentary older people with IGT. Screening included oral glucose tolerance test, stress/maximal O(2) uptake test, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan. Participants had a frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance test at baseline and 15-20 h after the seventh exercise session. Insulin sensitivity (S(I)), glucose disappearance constant (Kg, a measure of iv glucose tolerance), acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg), and disposition index (AIRg x S(I)), a measure of beta-cell function in relation to insulin resistance, were calculated.


RESULTS
Exercise was well tolerated. Body weight, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and iv glucose tolerance were unchanged with exercise. S(I) increased by 59%, AIRg decreased by 12%, and disposition index increased by 31%. There was no significant change in fasting lipid, catecholamine, leptin, or adiponectin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term exercise not only improved insulin resistance but also significantly enhanced beta-cell function in older people with IGT. These effects of short-term exercise on beta-cell function cannot be explained by changes in body weight or circulating levels of lipids, leptin, adiponectin, or catecholamines.
Bloem
Cathie J
CJ
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 49109, USA.
Chang
Annette M
AM
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002395:Catecholamines; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides