Effect of Exercise Training on Glucose Toleiance, In Vivo Insulin Sensitivity, Lipid and Liproprotein Concentrations in Middle-Aged Men With Mild Hypertriglyceridemia

The effects of 9 weeks of aerobic exercise training with maintenance of stable body weight upon insulin sensitivity and upon glucose, lipid, and lipoprotein concentrations were studied in 10 middle-aged men with mild hypertriglycerkiemia. Following training, mean maximum oxygen consumption improved from 33.5 ? 1.9 to 39.3 + 1.9 mL/kg/min (X f SE&l), iP < 0.01). Glucose concentrations, both fasting and during oral glucose tolerance testing, remained stable but both fasting insulin concentrations and insulin responses to oral glucose decreased (P < 0.1 and < 0.01. respectively). In vivo insulin sensitivity improved 25 + 6.1% (P c 0.01) following training. Exercise training resulted in decreases in fasting serum triglyceride concentrations from 203 + 12.6 to 126 * 9.0 mg/dL (P -=z 0.01). primarily as a result of the reduction in VLDL-triglycerides (P -C 0.01 I. The magnitude in percentage decrease of VLDL-triglycerides was found to be significantly correlated (r = 0.71, P < 0.05) with the magnitude in percent increase in max VO,. Serum cholesterol levels declined from 211 + 6.9 to 193 + 11.9 mg/dL (P < 0.01). and the ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol was improved. This study demonstrates that exercise training at a level of intensity feasible for many middle-aged men has beneficial effects on several factors that have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Q 1995 by Grune & Stratton, Inc