Plasma glucose, insulin and catecholamine responses to a Wingate test in physically active women and men

Abstract

The influence of gender on the glucose response to exercise remains contradictory. Moreover, to our knowledge, the glucoregulatory responses to anaerobic sprint exercise have only been studied in male subjects. Hence, the aim of the present study was to compare glucoregulatory metabolic (glucose and lactate) and hormonal (insulin, catecholamines and estradiol only in women) responses to a 30-s Wingate test, in physically active students. Eight women [19.8 (0.7) years] and eight men [22.0 (0.6) years] participated in a 30-s Wingate test on a bicycle ergometer. Plasma glucose, insulin, and catecholamine concentrations were determined at rest, at the end of both the warm-up and the exercise period and during the recovery (5, 10, 20, and 30 min). Results showed that the plasma glucose increase in response to a 30-s Wingate test was significantly higher in women than in men [0.99 (0.15) versus 0.33 (0.20) mmol l(-1) respectively, P<0.05]. Plasma insulin concentrations peaked at 10 min post-exercise and the increase between this time of recovery and the end of the warm-up was also significantly higher in women than in men [14.7 (2.9) versus 2.3 (1.9) pmol l(-1) respectively, P<0.05]. However, there was no gender difference concerning the catecholamine response. The study indicates a gender-related difference in post-exercise plasma glucose and insulin responses after a supramaximal exercise.

Sex alters impact of repeated bouts of sprint exercise on neuromuscular activity in trained athletes

“…The mechanical output decrement observed over the 20 sprints (men, 29.6%; women, 18.9%) and the achievement of maximal RPE scores confirmed the occurrence of neuromuscular fatigue in the 2 populations. Women had significantly lower absolute (~30%) and relative (~9%) mechanical work than men over the series of sprints, which corroborates many observations on the different sprinting capabilities of the sexes (Billaut et al 2003;Esbjörnsson-Liljedahl et al 2002, 1999Falgairette et al 2004;Perez-Gomez et al 2008;Vincent et al 2004;Yanagiya et al 2003). This is likely attributed to a larger muscle fibre cross-sectional area (associated with greater concentration of male sex steroids), but also to a greater potential for anaerobic metabolism (especially glycolytic activity) and a greater area occupied by type II muscle fibre in men (Jaworowski et al 2002;Mayhew et al 2001;Miller et al 1993;Perez-Gomez et al 2008;Russ et al 2005;Simoneau et al 1985;Weyand et al 1993).…”

Physiological and molecular responses to an acute bout of reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT)

“…From a practical research perspective however, a consequence of the substantial decrease in plasma volume following REHIT (which is presumably similar following other supramaximal HIT protocols), is that exercise-induced changes in plasma protein concentration should be corrected for plasma volume changes. Similarly, it seems reasonable to suggest that hemoconcentration due to the rapid drop in plasma volume may be responsible for previously observed increases in plasma glucose concentrations with sprint exercise (Vincent et al 2004;Stokes et al 2013;Esbjornsson et al 2009), rather than an increase in glucose rate of appearance.…”

High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise and Fat Loss

“…Catecholamine response has been shown to be significantly elevated after Wingate sprints for both men and women [17, 18]. Catecholamine response to HIIE protocols that are less intensive than the Wingate protocol have also been shown to be elevated.…”

“…Lactate levels after the Wingate test are typically higher in trained anaerobic athletes and have been shown to be similar [18] and lower for trained women compared to trained men [17]. Lactate levels gradually increase during longer, lower intensity HIIE protocols.…”