High-intensity, but not moderate-intensity, exercise increases post-exercise rate of fat oxidation in type 2 diabetics

Ricardo Yukio Asano; Marcelo Magalhães Sales; Rodrigo Alberto Vieira Browne; José Fernando Vila Nova de Moraes; Rafael da Costa Sotero; Gisela Arsa; Jonato Prestes; Johanna Lopez; John Eugene Lewis; Herbert Gustavo Simões

High-intensity, but not moderate-intensity, exercise increases post-exercise rate of fat oxidation in type 2 diabetics

J Clin Transl Res. 2016 May 21;2(2):55-62. eCollection 2016 Jun 20.

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Science and Letters, Municipal Foundation of Higher Education of Bragança Paulista, Bragança Paulista SP, Brazil.
² Department of Physical Education, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes SP, Brazil.
³ Department of Physical Education, State University of Goiás, Quirinópolis GO, Brazil.
⁴ Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal RN, Brazil.
⁵ Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina PE, Brazil.
⁶ Department of Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília DF, Brazil.
⁷ Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá MT, Brazil.
⁸ Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília DF, Brazil.
⁹ Clinical Dietitian and Researcher, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami FL, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami FL, USA.

PMID: 30873462
PMCID: PMC6410654

Abstract

Background: Aerobic exercise is recommended for glycemic and weight control in type 2 diabetes (T2D), but exercise intensity that increase post-exercise fat oxidation has not been established yet. It is expected that high-intensity exercise induce higher absolute oxidations and rates of oxidation of CHO (during) and fat (after) in normoglycemic, but in hyperglycemic it is unclear.

Aim: To compare the effects of exercise intensity on CHO and fat oxidation during and after exercise in individuals with T2D.

Methods: Eleven persons with T2D, randomly underwent three experimental sessions 72 hours apart: 1) 20 minute of high-intensity exercise (120% of lactate threshold (LT) - 120%LT), 2) 20 minute of moderate-intensity exercise (80% of LT - 80%LT), and 3) 20 minute of control session (CON) - no exercise was performed and the individuals remained seated during the whole time. Percentages of CHO and fat contribution and CHO and fat oxidation rate (mg/min) were analyzed during and after sessions.

Results: The rate of CHO oxidation during exercise was significantly higher during 120%LT in relation to 80%LT and CON (18.2 ± 5.6 vs. 9.5 ± 2.7 vs. 1.1 ± 0.4 mg∙min^-1), the absolute rate of fat oxidation was significantly higher in 120%LT compared to 80%LT and CON during exercise (13.5 ± 3.3, 9.5 ± 2.2, and 0.7 ± 0.2 mg∙min^-1, respectively, p < 0.05). During the post-exercise oxygen consumption recovery period, only the 120%LT had higher fat oxidation (94.5% vs. 68.1%, p < 0.05), when compared to CON. Both exercise sessions equally elicited a lowered glycaemia during the post-exercise period, but CHO oxidation was lower after 120%LT than CON (0.1 ± 0.2 vs. 0.9 ± 0.5 mg∙min^-1, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Higher intensity elicited an elevated CHO oxidation rate during exercise and a higher percentage of fat utilization during the post-exercise recovery period compared to moderate-intensity exercise and control sessions.

Relevance for patients: High-intensity aerobic exercise, even of short duration, may benefit individuals with T2D on the substrate oxidation related to the body fat. Exercise can be an important tool for the prevention and management of T2D due to its effects on carbohydrate and fat metabolism, reduction of body fat, and control of blood glucose.

Keywords: adipose tissue; blood glucose; diabetes; metabolic disease; oxidation; physical exercise.