EFFECTS OF EXERCISE TRAINING ON REGULATION OF SKELETAL MUSCLE GLUCOSE METABOLISM.

The aim was to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind exercise traininginduced improvements in glucose regulation in aged subjects. Twelve elderly male subjects completed 8 weeks of exercise training. Before and after the training period, the subjects completed an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a muscle biopsy was obtained from the vastus lateralis before and 45 minutes into the OGTT. Blood samples were collected before and up to 120 minutes after glucose intake. The present results suggest that exercise training improves glucose regulation in elderly subjects by enhancing the capacity and acute regulation of glucose uptake and by enhancing intracellular glucose removal to glycogen synthesis rather than glucose oxidation. Keywords: Physical activity—Aging—Pyruvate dehydrogenase—Glycogen synthase—Insulin signaling