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Effects of Different Types of Exercise in Type 2 Diabetes

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Type 2 Diabetes
Interventions
Behavioral: Aerobic Training
Behavioral: Resistance Training
Registration Number
NCT01182948
Lead Sponsor
Universita di Verona
Brief Summary

The purposes of this study are: a) to compare the effects of supervised programs of aerobic training or resistance training on the metabolic control of type 2 diabetes; b) to investigate some potential pathophysiologic and molecular mechanisms underlying these effects; c) to assess whether some changes may persist over time after termination of the supervised programs.

Detailed Description

Meta-analyses of studies which evaluated the effects of interventions based upon structured exercise programs in patients with type 2 diabetes show that regular physical activity may improve glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) by 0.6-0.7%. Most studies assessed the effects of aerobic exercise. However, recent data suggest that resistance training may result in similar effects. It seems likely that these beneficial results are obtained through different molecular mechanisms by aerobic training and resistance training. Consequently, these exercise modalities could be synergistic in improving the metabolic abnormalities in these subjects. On the other hand, comparison data are very limited.

Aims of the protocol are to compare the effects of aerobic training or resistance training on the metabolic control of type 2 diabetes and to investigate some potential pathophysiologic and molecular mechanisms underlying these effects.

The study will be carried out in 40 sedentary type 2 diabetic patients without diabetic complications, aged 40-70 yr, with body mass index (BMI) between 24-36 kg/m2 and HbA1c between 6.5-9.0%. Admitted diabetes treatments will be diet and oral hypoglycemic agents.

Subjects will be assigned, by a randomization schedule weighted by baseline BMI and fitness, to 2 groups of supervised exercise: aerobic training or resistance training. Training programs will have a similar volume and will be scheduled in three 60 min sessions per week for 4 months. During the study subjects will be instructed to follow an isocaloric diet. Before and at the end of the exercise training the following will be assessed: HbA1c (primary outcome), plasma glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity (glucose clamp), body composition (Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, DEXA), liver and muscle fat content (magnetic resonance imaging), expression in the muscle of some genes involved in ATP production, mitochondrial biogenesis and substrate utilization, markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and early vascular damage, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) during a maximal exercise test, other exercise tests, tissue oxygen extraction during exercise (Near-infrared spectroscopy, NIRS), energy expenditure and physical activity in daily life (metabolic Holter and questionnaire). Monitoring of blood glucose will also be carried out over a 48h period, comprising an exercise session (Continuous Glucose Monitoring System).

Metabolic features, exercise tests, body composition, daily physical activity and expression of relevant genes in the muscle will also be assessed 1 yr after completion of the training programs, to establish whether some changes may persist over time.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • BMI between 24-36 kg/m2;
  • HbA1c between 6.5-9.0%;
  • diabetes diagnosis must have been made at least 1 yr previously;
  • admitted diabetes treatments will be diet and oral hypoglycemic agents;
  • baseline physical activity, estimated by the IPAQ questionnaire, lower than 1000 MET min per week;
  • baseline body weight stable (changes lower than 2 kg in the last 2 months).
Exclusion Criteria
  • moderate-severe somatic or autonomic neuropathy;
  • coronary heart disease;
  • peripheral or cerebral vascular disease;
  • preproliferative or proliferative retinopathy or chronic renal failure (serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dl in females; >1.5 mg/dl in males);
  • therapy with beta-blocker drugs;
  • smokers;
  • acute clinically significant intercurrent diseases;
  • inability to perform the scheduled physical activity programs.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Aerobic ExerciseAerobic TrainingThe aerobic training group will use cardiovascular training devices.
Resistance ExerciseResistance TrainingThe resistance training group will perform exercises on weight machines and free weights.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels4 months

The measurement of HbA1c is carried out with a DCCT (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial)-aligned method.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in body weight4 months
Change in total cholesterol levels4 months
Change in liver and muscle fat content4 months

Measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Change in LDL-cholesterol levels4 months
Change in triglycerides levels4 months
Change in energy expenditure4 months

Measured by indirect calorimetry

Change in peak oxygen uptake4 months

Measured during an incremental exercise test

Changes in expression in the muscle of some genes involved in ATP production, mitochondrial biogenesis and substrate utilization4 months

mRNA analysis with multiplex tandem real-time PCR of fine needle aspirates obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle

Change in fasting plasma glucose levels4 months
Change in beta-cell function4 months

Measured by OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test)

Change in tissue oxygen extraction4 months

Measured by NIRS (Near-infrared spectroscopy) during an incremental test exercise

Change in body composition4 months

Assessment by DEXA (Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry)

Change in HDL-cholesterol levels4 months
Change in blood pressure4 months
Change in blood glucose during and after exercise48 hours

Measured by continuous glucose monitoring system

Muscle strength4 months

Measured by 1RM (one-repetition maximum) test

Change in flexibility4 months

Measured by "sit and reach" test and "back scratch" test

Compliance4 months

Attendance at the scheduled sessions is recorded for each patient.

Change in energy expenditure through voluntary physical activity4 months

Energy expenditure is estimated through metabolic Holter (Sense Wear Armband) and IPAQ (International physical activity questionnaire).

Change in insulin sensitivity4 months

Measured by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp

Change in antidiabetic medications4 months

Class and dosage of blood-glucose lowering drugs are recorded before and at the end of the protocol.

Change in 6 minutes walk distance4 months

This test measures the number of meters that can be walked in 6 minutes over a 30 m course. It is a simple field test to assess aerobic functional capacity.

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