Effects of Post‐absorptive and Postprandial Exercise on Glucoregulation in Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an acute exercise bout in the morning in the post-absorptive or postprandial state on the glycemic and insulinemic response to three standardized meals throughout the day. It is hypothesized that post-absorptive exercise enhances fat oxidation rate during exercise and thereafter attenuates the glucose and insulin response to subsequent meals. Research Methods and Procedures: Seven sedentary males with metabolic syndrome (age, 45 Ϯ 11 years; BMI, 34 Ϯ 3 kg/m 2 ) were studied in a crossover design comparing three conditions: no exercise, postprandial and post-absorptive exercise (at ϳ60% of the individual V O 2max for 45 minutes). Substrate use was evaluated by indirect calorimetry during exercise. Venous blood samples were taken at regular (30-to 60-minute) intervals throughout the day, and glucose, insulin, and triglyceride concentrations were determined. Results: During exercise, a higher fat oxidation rate was observed in the post-absorptive than the postprandial state. The glycemic response to a standardized high-carbohydrate breakfast was lower when exercising after breakfast than when exercising before breakfast. There was no effect of either exercise mode on glucose and insulin response to lunch and supper. Discussion: Post-absorptive exercise has the advantage of promoting fat use, whereas postprandial exercise can attenuate the glycemic response to breakfast. Neither exercise mode acutely induces improved glucoregulation later during the day. The impact of meal timing on the effects of regular exercise training on glycemic control in this population remains to be studied.

Three 15-min Bouts of Moderate Postmeal Walking Significantly Improves 24-h Glycemic Control in Older People at Risk for Impaired Glucose Tolerance

“…Studies of premeal (i.e., postabsorptive) exercise generally report either no effect on postchallenge glycemia (29,30) or an increase in the glycemic effect of a meal (26), which corroborates our findings regarding the effects of exercise performed at 4:30 p.m. on the subsequent dinner meal. Studies of postmeal exercise report improvements in postprandial glycemic control for as long as 4 h postchallenge, but not in response to the next meal (30), suggesting that these benefits are short-lived.…”

“…Other studies have investigated the role of exercise timing on glycemic responses to meals, primarily among younger or middle-aged people with type 2 diabetes and with the exercise timing ranging from premeal (26,27), immediately postmeal (25,28), 15–45 min postmeal (29,30), and 2 h postmeal (31). Studies of premeal (i.e., postabsorptive) exercise generally report either no effect on postchallenge glycemia (29,30) or an increase in the glycemic effect of a meal (26), which corroborates our findings regarding the effects of exercise performed at 4:30 p.m. on the subsequent dinner meal.…”

Acute Effects of Postprandial Aerobic Exercise on Glucose and Lipoprotein Metabolism in Healthy Young Women

“…Most guidelines recommend postprandial moderate aerobic exercise for the prevention and treatment of glucose intolerance/diabetes mellitus 24) . It is reported that postabsorptive exercise has the advantage of promoting fat use, whereas postprandial exercise can attenuate the glycemic response to breakfast in sedentary males with metabolic syndrome 25) . Postprandial exercise may be more effective for lowering the glycemic impact of the evening meal in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared with pre-meal exercise 26) .…”

Percutaneous Electrical Muscle Stimulation Attenuates Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Obese and Pre-obese Japanese Men

“…It has been suggested that a single bout of exercise after a meal attenuates postprandial hyperglycemia in people with diabetes (Larsen, et al, 1997;Poirier, et al, 2001) and metabolic syndrome (Derave, et al, 2007). This observation is clinically important since postprandial hyperglycemia is a dominant and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes (Ceriello, 2004;Giugliano and Ceriello, 2001;Hanefeld, et al, 1996).…”