Effects of Aerobic Exercise Intensity on Abdominal and Thigh Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle Attenuation in Overweight Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

BackgroundWe investigated the effects of exercise intensity on abdominal and mid-thigh adipose tissue, attenuation of skeletal muscle, and insulin sensitivity in overweight women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsTwenty-eight patients were randomly assigned to control (CG, n=12), moderate intensity exercise (MEG, n=8), or vigorous intensity exercise (VEG, n=8) group. Subjects in both exercise groups completed a 12-week exercise program (MEG, 3.6 to 5.2 METs; VEG, ≥5.2 METs) that was monitored by accelerometers. We assessed body mass index (BMI), total fat area (TFA), visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), mid-thigh intramuscular adipose tissue (TIMAT), total skeletal muscle (TTM), low density skeletal muscle (TLDM), and normal density skeletal muscle (TNDM) using computed tomography, and measured insulin sensitivity with an insulin tolerance test (KITT), before and after the intervention.ResultsAt baseline, the mean age was 53.8±7.9 years, duration of diabetes was 3.8±2.3 years, and BMI was 26.6±2.6 kg/m2. After 12 weeks, the percent change (%C) in BMI, TIMAT, and TLDM were not different among three groups. However, %C in TFA and VFA were significantly reduced in MEG compared to CG (P=0.026 and P=0.008, respectively). %C SFA was significantly reduced in VEG compared to CG (P=0.038) and %C TTM, TNDM, and KITT were significantly increased in VEG compared to the CG (P=0.044, P=0.007, and P=0.016, respectively).ConclusionAlthough there was no difference in the change in BMI among groups, TFA and VFA were more reduced in MEG, and only VEG increased TTM, TNDM, and insulin sensitivity compared to CG.

Impact of a 12-week aerobic exercise training program on anthropometric and metabolic parameters of a group of type 2 diabetes Cameroonian women aged ≥50 years

“…Another observation of this study was the markedly decreased glycaemia at the end of the program. This has already been noted by other authors (11). Glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin can be reduced by the only exercise (3,4).…”

“…Total body weight loss is thus certainly accompanied with a reduced white adipose tissue mass. However, this seems to be minor in reducing adiposity during physical activity (11). By restoring muscular fibers through a good blood flow, the aerobic exercise could have induced the increase of the lean mass observed in this study (14).…”

“…Four main mechanisms could explain that result: excess glucose uptake and utilization by the muscle tissue, increased glycogenolysis, increased neoglucogenesis and increased insulin sensitivity. Because of "physiologic muscle hyperemia" and of increased intracellular glucose transporters during exercise, excess glucose and oxygen uptake occurs (11,15). Glycogenolysis restores glucose in the circulation from glycogen, and neoglucogenesis brings more glucose in the circulation from other substrates.…”

“…To observe the effect of moderate aerobic exercise on insulin sensitivity, more time is usually required. The underlying mechanism of improved insulin sensitivity when the aerobic capacity is most increased (during exercise) may be the activation of the AMP-kinase pathway (11).…”

Beyond Nutrition Is There Any Role for Physical Activity in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Therapy?

“…Due to technical improvements to imaging, the great contribution of intra-abdominal fat to metabolic abnormalities and coronary risk factors has now been highlighted [112][113][114][115]. On the other hand, a major role for subcutaneous abdominal fat and intramuscular fat cannot be excluded [116]. If the positive influence of exercise on metabolic and cardiovascular health is essentially dependent on changes in abdominal fat, then we may now have a specific direction to apply the best interventions and best methods to measure outcomes.…”