Physical Activity, Blood Glucose and C-Peptide in Healthy School-Children, a Longitudinal Study.
OBJECTIVE
To further elucidate the relationship between physical activity and several risk factors for development of diabetes (glucose, C-peptide and obesity) over time.


METHODS
A prospective longitudinal study where physical activity was measured on 199 children from Kalmar and Linköping at age 8, and the same 107 children from Linköping again at age 12. Anthropometric data was collected and blood was analyzed for C-peptide and f-glucose. The children in the study were representative for the general Swedish child population, and on an average lean.


RESULTS
High physical activity was related to lower C-peptide at age 8 and 12. This correlation was especially pronounced in boys, who also were more physically active than girls at both time points. The association seen at 8 years of age was similar at age 12 in most children. Children with higher BMI Z-Score had a higher fasting C-peptide (age 12) but linear regression showed that children with more steps per day were less likely to have a higher fasting C-peptide irrespective of BMI. Longitudinal follow-up showed that a decrease in physical activity increased insulin resistance and β-cell load.


CONCLUSIONS
Already in young children, physical activity improves insulin sensitivity and decreases the need of C-peptide over time. This seems to become even more pronounced with increasing age when children are followed longitudinally. Low physical activity increases the load on insulin producing β-cells, might increase the risk for both type 1- and 2 diabetes.
CHILD research group, Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, SE- 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden.
Karina
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4599-155X
K
Huus
Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE- 58185 Linköping, Sweden.
Linda
L
Åkerman
Linnaeus University, School of Sport Sciences, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden.|Department of Nutrition and Sport Sciences, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Anders
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9476-9512
A
Raustorp
Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE- 58185 Linköping, Sweden.|Pediatric Clinic, Östergötland, County Council, SE -58185 Linköping, Sweden.
Johnny
J
Ludvigsson
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D011486:Protein C