Does 8 weeks of strenuous bicycle exercise improve diabetes-related inflammatory cytokines and free fatty acids in type 2 diabetes patients and individuals at high-risk of metabolic syndrome?

Abstract

In the present study, the effects of 8 weeks of low volume high intensity interval training (HIIT) was investigated on circulating diabetes-related cytokines and free fatty acids (FFA) in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and matched controls (CON). Methods: Participants exercised for 8 weeks (3 weekly sessions: 10 × 60 sec HIIT) on a cycle ergometer supervised by medical staff. Prior to the intervention and after the last HIIT session, venous blood samples were collected.

Results: Circulating omentin-1 concentrations increased significantly in both the CON-group (p = 0.003) and in the T2D-group (p = 0.002). Pentraxin-3 (p = 0.010) and IL-1ra (p = 0.031) levels increased significantly in the CON-group. Plasma FFA in the T2D-group was significantly reduced after 60 min (p = 0.011). Post HIIT area under curve of circulating FFAs was reduced by −17.73 ± 6.99% (p = 0.041) in the T2D-group. Conclusion: We observed only modest exercise-induced improvements of multiple diabetes-related cytokines. Circulating levels of FFAs were significantly lowered in the T2D-group.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02333734.

• Free fatty acids and high intensity interval training
• inflammation
• metabolic syndrome
• type 2 diabetes

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the following for expert assistance: Co-ordinators at Vendsyssel Hospital, Hjørring C. B. Nielsen and B. B. Nielsen. J. Clausen for DXA analyses. Physiotherapist Luis Fernando Rodriges Perillo.

Declaration of interest

Authors have no conflict of interest.

This work was supported by Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University.