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High-intensity exercise and carbohydrate-reduced energy-restricted diet in obese individuals

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Abstract

Continuous high glycemic load and inactivity challenge glucose homeostasis and fat oxidation. Hyperglycemia and high intramuscular glucose levels mediate insulin resistance, a precursor state of type 2 diabetes. The aim was to investigate whether a carbohydrate (CHO)-reduced diet combined with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) enhances the beneficial effects of the diet alone on insulin sensitivity and fat oxidation in obese individuals. Nineteen obese subjects underwent 14 days of CHO-reduced and energy-restricted diet. Ten of them combined the diet with HIIT (4 min bouts at 90% VO2peak up to 10 times, 3 times a week). Oral glucose insulin sensitivity (OGIS) increased significantly in both groups; [diet–exercise (DE) group: pre 377 ± 70, post 396 ± 68 mL min−1 m−2; diet (D) group: pre 365 ± 91, post 404 ± 87 mL min−1 m−2; P < 0.001]. Fasting respiratory exchange ratio (RER) decreased significantly in both groups (DE group: pre 0.91 ± 0.06, post 0.88 ± 0.06; D group: pre 0.92 ± 0.07, post 0.86 ± 0.07; P = 0.002). VO2peak increased significantly in the DE group (pre 27 ± 5, post 32 ± 6 mL kg−1 min−1; P < 0.001), but not in the D group (pre 26 ± 9, post 26 ± 8 mL kg−1 min−1). Lean mass and resistin were preserved only in the DE group (P < 0.05). Fourteen days of CHO-reduced diet improved OGIS and fat oxidation (RER) in obese subjects. The energy-balanced HIIT did not further enhance these parameters, but increased aerobic capacity (VO2peak) and preserved lean mass and resistin.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a North West Wales NHS Research Grant. The authors must thank Dr. Anthony Wilton and Dr. Peter Carson from Gwynedd Hospital for their helpful collaboration. We acknowledge Mr. Kevin Williams for his precious technical support. Finally, we are grateful to Dr. Thomas Caspari for letting us use part of the North West Cancer Research Fund Institute facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, George Building, Holyhead Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2PZ, UK

    Francesco Sartor, Helma M. de Morree, Verena Matschke, Samuele M. Marcora, Jeanette M. Thom & Hans-Peter Kubis

  2. Rheumatology Department, Gwynedd Hospital, Bangor, Wales, UK

    Verena Matschke

  3. Laboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Athanasios Milousis

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  1. Francesco Sartor
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Correspondence to Hans-Peter Kubis.

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Communicated by Jacques Poortmans.

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Sartor, F., de Morree, H.M., Matschke, V. et al. High-intensity exercise and carbohydrate-reduced energy-restricted diet in obese individuals. Eur J Appl Physiol 110, 893–903 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1571-y

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