Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with reduced fasting insulin--the Pilot Pregnancy and Active Living Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between physical activity during pregnancy and fasting plasma insulin measured in the second trimester.


METHODS
We conducted a pilot prospective cohort study of 69 overweight or obese women who were enrolled before 20 weeks of gestation at an obstetric clinic in Columbia, South Carolina in 2006-2007. At 24-28 weeks of gestation, fasting blood samples were collected and physical activity from the 3 months prior to the visit was assessed using a validated Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire.


RESULTS
Total energy expenditure (EE) in this population was attributable to sedentary activities (24.4%) and to physical activities of different intensities (light: 44.8%, moderate: 30.2%, and vigorous: 0.6%). By type, total EE mainly came from household/caregiving activities (58.9%) with a small proportion from exercise (3.8%). After adjusting for confounders, the mean fasting insulin values across the quartiles of total EE (least to most) were 17.3, 13.0, 12.1, and 9.6 uIU/ml (P for trend=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that increased total physical activity is associated with reduced fasting insulin levels in overweight or obese pregnant women.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. jihong.liu2003@post.harvard.edu
Ji-Hong
JH
Liu
Elizabeth J
EJ
Mayer-Davis
Russell R
RR
Pate
Alexa E
AE
Gallagher
Janice L
JL
Bacon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D055815:Young Adult
D007328:Insulin