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Consecutive days of exercise decrease insulin response more than a single exercise session in healthy, inactive men

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Abstract

Purpose

It is reported that a single bout of exercise can lower insulin responses 12–24 h post-exercise; however, the insulin responses to alternate or consecutive bouts of exercise is unknown. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercise pattern on post-exercise insulin and glucose responses following a glucose challenge.

Methods

Ten male participants (n = 10, mean ± SD, Age 29.5 ± 7.7 years; BMI 25.7 ± 3.0 kg/m2) completed three exercise trials of walking for 60 min at ~ 70% of VO2max. The trials consisted of: three consecutive exercise days (3CON), three alternate exercise days (3ALT), a single bout of exercise (SB), and a no exercise control (R). Twelve to fourteen hours after the last bout of exercise or R, participants completed a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and blood was collected at 30 min intervals for the measurement of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide.

Result

Calculated incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for glucose and C-peptide was not different between the four trials. Insulin iAUC decreased 34.9% for 3CON compared to R (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Three consecutive days of walking at ~ 70% VO2max improved insulin response following an OGTT compared to no exercise. It is possible, that for healthy males, the effect of a single bout of exercise or exercise bouts separated by more than 24 h may not be enough stimulus to lower insulin responses to a glucose challenge.

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Abbreviations

AUC:

Area under the curve

iAUC:

Incremental area under the curve

OGTT:

Oral glucose tolerance test

3ALT:

Three alternate days

3CON:

Three consecutive days

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported in part by the Texas Woman's University Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, as well as the Department of Kinesiology. SED is currently supported by a T32 Postdoctoral Award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (T32DK062710). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIDDK or the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA

    Todd Castleberry

  2. Department of Kinesiology, Texas Woman’s University, Pioneer Hall, P.O. Box 425647, Denton, TX, 76204-5647, USA

    Todd Castleberry, Christopher Irvine, Sarah E. Deemer, Matthew F. Brisebois, Ryan Gordon, Michael D. Oldham, Anthony A. Duplanty & Vic Ben-Ezra

  3. Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Sarah E. Deemer

Authors
  1. Todd Castleberry
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  2. Christopher Irvine
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  3. Sarah E. Deemer
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  4. Matthew F. Brisebois
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  5. Ryan Gordon
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  8. Vic Ben-Ezra
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Contributions

TC was responsible for collecting and analyzing data, and writing the manuscript. CI and RG were responsible for collecting data, analyzing data, and manuscript revisions. SD collected data and reviewed and edited the manuscript. MB, MO, and JR collected and analyzed data. AD reviewed data and edited manuscript. VB designed the research study, collected the data, and edited the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vic Ben-Ezra.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Communicated by Philip D Chilibeck.

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Castleberry, T., Irvine, C., Deemer, S.E. et al. Consecutive days of exercise decrease insulin response more than a single exercise session in healthy, inactive men. Eur J Appl Physiol 119, 1591–1598 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04148-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04148-z

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