Effect of a prolonged altitude expedition on glucose tolerance and abdominal fatness.
In the present study, we investigated the effect of a long-term mountain expedition on glucose tolerance and insulin action. Twelve registered mountaineers ages 31 years (SD = 1.1) participated in a 25-day expedition at a 2,200-3,800-m altitude with an average duration of 8 hr per day. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was substantially reduced during hiking. Glucose tolerance and insulin responses were measured prior to and twice during the expedition period. Maximal oxygen consumption increased from 43.0 +/- 2.7 to 49.1 +/- 2.2 mL/kg/min. Percentage of body fat decreased from 19.4 +/- 6.8% to 16.9 +/- 5.9%. The area under the curves for insulin and glucose during the oral glucose tolerance test were also reduced in Days 3 and 25. The present study demonstrated that altitude hiking activity is an effective lifestyle intervention to improve insulin action.
School of Liberal Education at Shih Chien University, Taiwan.
Mu-Tsung
MT
Chen
Wen-Chih
WC
Lee
Shih-Chang
SC
Chen
Chiu-Chou
CC
Chen
Chung-Yu
CY
Chen
Shin-Da
SD
Lee
Jørgen
J
Jensen
Chia-Hua
CH
Kuo
D050153:Abdominal Fat; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D010100:Oxygen