Cytokine, glycemic, and insulinemic responses to an acute bout of games‐based activity in adolescents

Abstract

An acute bout of endurance exercise in adults stimulates a same‐day anti‐inflammatory response which may affect low‐grade chronic inflammation and insulin resistance and benefit cardio‐metabolic health. The anti‐inflammatory responses to intermittent games‐based exercise and to exercise in young people beyond 2 hours post‐exercise are unknown. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to examine the anti‐inflammatory, glycemic and insulinemic response to games‐based activity in adolescents. Following ethical approval and familiarization, 39 adolescents (12.3 ± 0.7 years) completed an exercise (E) and rested (R) trial in a counterbalanced, randomized crossover design. Following a standardized breakfast, participants completed 1‐hour games‐based activity. Capillary blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately and 1 hour post‐exercise, and 30, 60 and 120 minutes following a standardized lunch. A final blood sample was taken the next morning. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. IL‐6 concentration was higher on day one of the exercise trial (E:3.4 ± 0.4, R:2.7 ± 0.4 pg/mL; P = 0.006), as was the anti‐inflammatory IL‐6:TNF‐α ratio (E:5.53 ± 0.93, R:3.75 ± 0.45; P = 0.027). Levels of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 increased on day two of the exercise trial (E:2.11 ± 0.23, R:1.66 ± 0.16 pg/mL; P = 0.032). Insulin sensitivity was enhanced on the exercise trial with a reduction in iAUC following the standardized lunch (E:2310 ± 834, R:3122 ± 1443 mU/L × 120 minutes; P < 0.001). Games‐based activity stimulated an anti‐inflammatory response up to 24 hours post‐exercise and improved insulin sensitivity in response to a standardized meal in healthy adolescents. These novel findings suggest that games‐based activity is an ecologically valid mode of exercise to elicit beneficial effects on cardio‐metabolic risk factors in young people.

Effect of Exercise Duration on Postprandial Glycaemic and Insulinaemic Responses in Adolescents

“…A heart rate monitor (Team Sports System, Firstbeat Technologies Ltd., Jyvaskyla, Finland) was worn throughout day one of each experimental trial. Participants consumed a standardised breakfast (cornflakes, milk, and toast with margarine) on day one and two, and a standardised lunch (chicken sandwich, baked salted crisps and an apple) on day one only [13,18]. Each meal contained 1.5 g carbohydrate per kg body mass.…”

“…Yet, despite high-intensity intermittent activity being an ecologically valid mode of exercise in young people, there is limited research into its effect on adolescent metabolic health. Of the limited research conducted, high-intensity intermittent cycling [12] and 60 min of games-based activity in adolescents [13] has reduced plasma insulin incremental area under the curve (iAUC) by 24-30%. Therefore, intermittent activity elicits a greater response than the 12-15% reduction following more prolonged moderate intensity exercise [8,9], whilst also being deemed to have greater ecological validity for young people.…”

“…Furthermore, it is important to determine the residual effects of exercise on insulin sensitivity to inform exercise prescription (in particular exercise frequency) in adolescents. However, there is limited information available on the effect of intermittent activity on insulin sensitivity beyond 3 h post-exercise in adolescents [8,12,13]. When insulin sensitivity has been assessed up to 24 h post-exercise, the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) has been the chosen marker of insulin resistance [8,12,13].…”

“…However, there is limited information available on the effect of intermittent activity on insulin sensitivity beyond 3 h post-exercise in adolescents [8,12,13]. When insulin sensitivity has been assessed up to 24 h post-exercise, the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) has been the chosen marker of insulin resistance [8,12,13]. Following high-intensity intermittent cycling [8,12] and games-based activity [13], no effect was observed on HOMA when compared with the rested state in healthy adolescents.…”

“…When insulin sensitivity has been assessed up to 24 h post-exercise, the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) has been the chosen marker of insulin resistance [8,12,13]. Following high-intensity intermittent cycling [8,12] and games-based activity [13], no effect was observed on HOMA when compared with the rested state in healthy adolescents. However, as HOMA is a fasted measure of hepatic insulin sensitivity, it is not sensitive to the changes in peripheral insulin sensitivity that occur post-exercise [12].…”