Elsevier

Metabolism

Volume 46, Issue 2, February 1997, Pages 203-209
Metabolism

Influence of moderate physical exercise on insulin-mediated and non—insulin-mediated glucose uptake in healthy subjects☆

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0026-0495(97)90303-6Get rights and content

Abstract

To establish the relative importance of insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness during exercise using Bergman's minimal model, 12 nontrained healthy subjects were studied at rest and during 95 minutes of moderate exercise (50% maximum oxygen consumption [Vo2max]). Each subject underwent two frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests (FSIGTs) for 90 minutes, at rest (FSIGTr) and during exercise (FSIGTe). Plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were determined. Insulin sensitivity (SI), glucose effectiveness at basal insulin (SG), insulin action [X(t)], and first-phase (Φ1) and second-phase (Φ2) β-cell responsiveness to glucose were estimated using both minimal models of glucose disposal (MMg) and insulin kinetics (MMi). Glucose effectiveness at zero insulin (GEZI), glucose tolerance index (KG), and the area under the insulin curve (AUC0–90) were also calculated. Intravenous glucose tolerance improved significantly during physical exercise. During exercise, S1 (FSIGTr v FSIGTe: 8.5 ± 1.0 v 25.5 ± 7.2 × 10−5 · min−1 [pmol · L−1]−1, P < .01), SG (0.195 ± 0.03 v 0.283 ± 0.03 × 10−1 · min−1, P < .05), and GEZI (0.190 ± 0.03 v 0.269 ± 0.04 × 10−1 · min−1, P < .05) increased; however, no changes in Φ1 and Φ2 were found. Despite a significant decrease in the insulin response to glucose (AUC0–90, 21,000 ± 2,008 v 14,340 ± 2,596 pmol · L−1 · min, P < .01), insulin action [X(t)] was significantly higher during the FSIGTe. These results show that physical exercise improves mainly insulin sensitivity, and to a lesser degree, glucose effectiveness. During exercise, the insulin response to glucose was lower than at rest, but β-cell responsiveness to glucose did not change.

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    ☆

    Supported by the Oxford Diabetes Trust, and in part by Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de la Seguridad Social Grants No. 88/1775 and 89/0477 and DGICYT Grant No. 88-0207.

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