title: High Intensity Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Can Improve Glucose Tolerance in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is higher in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls, indicating metabolic deficits that may increase comorbidity. In other populations, IGT can, at least partly, be reversed by intense physical exercise, but this is never investigated before in MS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of high intensity aerobic and resistance training on glucose tolerance and skeletal muscle GLUT4 content in MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four persons with MS (aged 45 ± 3 years, EDSS 2.5 ± 1.07) were randomized into three groups, including a (1) sedentary control group (SED, n = 11), (2) 12-week high intensity interval plus resistance training group (HITR, n = 12), or (3) 12-week high intensity continuous aerobic training plus resistance training group (HCTR, n = 11). Before and after 12 weeks, glucose tolerance and skeletal muscle GLUT4 content were determined by an oral glucose tolerance test and analysis of a m.vastus lateralis biopsy, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant changes for subjects of SED. From pre- to post-intervention, total area under the glucose curve (tAUC) decreased significantly in both HITR (-6.9 ± 6.2%) and HCTR (-11.0 ± 7.7%) (P < 0.05). Insulin tAUC decreased (-12.3 ± 14.7%) within HCTR and muscle GLUT4 content increased (+6.6 ± 4.5%) in HITR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twelve weeks of high intensity aerobic exercise in combination with resistance training improved glucose tolerance in persons with MS.
authors.affiliation: From the REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium (IW, FV, KV, DH, BOE); Section of Sport Science, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (UD); and Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (Vaxinfectio), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium (ND, NC).
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wens
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dalgas
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vandenabeele
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verboven
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Deckx
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cools
authors.forename: Bert O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Eijnde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D000072696:High-Intensity Interval Training; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D055070:Resistance Training
chemical_list: D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; C495692:SLC2A4 protein, human