Elsevier

Metabolism

Volume 19, Issue 8, August 1970, Pages 631-638
Metabolism

The effect of physical training on insulin production in obesity

https://doi.org/10.1016/0026-0495(70)90020-XGet rights and content

Abstract

Ten obese patients were subjected to physical training, which resulted in an increased maximal oxygen consumption and an increased isometric muscle strength. Body weight increased, due primarily to an increase in body fat, but also, in some cases, to an increase in body cell mass, determined by isotope dilution techniques. Fat cell diameter was unchanged. Peroral glucose tolerance test with plasma radioimmuochemically determined insulin in these patients showed no changes in blood glucose values after training but a marked decrease in insulin values. This was interpreted to be due to an increased insulin sensitivity of tissues. Since the body fat mass was not decreased it was not considered likely that the increased insulin sensitivity was due to adipose tissue factors. This augmentation of insulin sensitivity was furthermore not related to the increase in body cell mass and therefore probably not to an increase in muscle mass. It was concluded that muscle probably is an important determinant for insulin sensitivity in obesity.

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      Citation Excerpt :

      However, given that our multivariate analyses showed that change in PAEE was a more important predictor of change in m-value than were changes in general or abdominal obesity indices, a direct effect of exercise is therefore postulated. More than 30 years ago, Bjorntorp and colleagues [46] demonstrated lower insulin concentrations in response to an oral glucose tolerance test after an exercise program in 10 obese patients (of whom 8 were women), who had no clinical cardiovascular disease or other conditions that would prevent them from intensive physical training. Patients were instructed not to restrict their diet during the investigation.

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    Supported by Grant B70-19X-251-07B from the Swedish Medical Research Council.

    1

    Per Björntorp, M.D., Ph.D.: Assistant Professor of Experimental Medicine.

    2

    Kristina de Jounge; Physiotherapist.

    3

    Lars Sjöström, M.D.: Resident.

    4

    Lars Sullivan, M.D.: Resident.

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