The effects of vitamin E supplementation and/or resistance exercise on insulin responsiveness in the elderly

This purpose of this study was to determine the effects of vitamin E and/or resistance exercise on insulin resistance and glucose uptake. Nine subjects, who were currently active but not strength training, were assigned to either the vitamin E or placebo group based on their prescreening measurements. Subjects underwent a 3-week vitamin E washout period before testing. At baseline testing subjects were given a 75-gram glucose load and blood was drawn every 15-minutes for 2-hours to analyze insulin and glucose response. Another oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed 45minutes after a 50-minute full body progressive resistance training session to determine insulin and glucose response to exercise. Subjects ingested either the placebo (3 capsules of olive oil) or 1200 IU vitamin E (3 capsules) for 9-weeks. After 3-weeks of supplementation the subjects returned for another exercising OGTT. After this session the subjects began a 6-week progressive resistance exercise program, in which they performed another OGTT after the last session. Both groups showed a significant increase in strength gains pre and post resistance training. The statistical analysis failed to demonstrate any differences between groups in insulin or glucose response in any of the four OGTT trials, but there were multiple trends present. Combining vitamin E supplementation with resistance training increased insulin sensitivity and the disposal of glucose. Both groups also had significant strength gains from pre to post study. Future research is needed for verification of these trends.School of Physical EducationThesis (M.S.