title: Glucose homeostasis and cardiovascular disease biomarkers in older alpine skiers.
abstract: Alpine skiing and ski training involves elements of static and dynamic training, and may therefore improve insulin sensitivity. Healthy men and women who where beginners/intermediate level of alpine skiing, were studied before (Pre) and immediately after (Post) 12 weeks of alpine ski training. After an additional 8 weeks a third test (retention study, Ret) was performed. The subjects were randomized into an intervention group (IG, n=22, age=66.6 ± 0.4 years) or a control group (CG, n=20, age=67.0 ± 1.0 years). Plasma glucose decreased (P<0.05) in CG, but increased (P<0.05) again at Ret, while a continued decrease was seen in IG (Ret vs Post, P<0.05). Plasma insulin decreased (P<0.05) with training in IG, while no effect was seen in CG. HOMA2 index for insulin resistance decreased (P<0.05) from 0.80 ± 0.08 to 0.71 ± 0.09 in IG. The value at Ret (0.57 ± 0.08) tended (P=0.067) to be different from Post. In CG the corresponding values were 0.84 ± 0.09, 0.81 ± 0.12 and 0.70 ± 0.09, respectively. Total cholesterol and LDL decreased in both IC and CG, a result, interpreted as seasonal variation. Biomarkers for endothelial function and low-grade inflammation were not elevated and similar in IG and CG, and did not change. Alpine ski training improves glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in healthy, elderly individuals.
authors.affiliation: Xlab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. fdela@sund.ku.dk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dela
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niederseer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Patsch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pirich
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niebauer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001823:Body Composition; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D012865:Skiing / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D005947:Glucose