Table 2.
The clinical benefits of exercise intervention
| Variable | Assessment | Effect of training (p value) | Interaction between training and intensity (p value) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LI group | HI group | |||||||
| Baseline | 2 months | 6 months | Baseline | 2 months | 6 months | |||
| Whole body insulin sensitivity and glycaemic control | ||||||||
| Fasting glucose (mmol/l)a | 9.8 ± 0.6 | 9.6 ± 0.6 | 9.7 ± 0.6 | 9.7 ± 0.4 | 9.4 ± 0.4 | 9.2 ± 0.4 | ||
| Fasting insulin (pmol/l)a | 147 ± 24 | 174 ± 29 | 170 ± 25 | 128 ± 10 | 123 ± 9 | 119 ± 9 | ||
| HOMA indexa | 8.4 ± 1.3 | 9.9 ± 1.6 | 10.1 ± 1.5 | 7.7 ± 0.8 | 7.1 ± 0.7 | 6.5 ± 0.6 | ||
| HbA1c (%) | 7.4 ± 0.3 | 7.3 ± 0.3 | 7.2 ± 0.3 | 7.1 ± 0.2 | 6.9 ± 0.2 | 6.6 ± 0.18 | <0.01 | |
| AUC OGTT (mol/min/l)a | 1.76 ± 0.08 | 1.68 ± 0.08 | 1.75 ± 0.08 | 1.83 ± 0.08 | 1.78 ± 0.07 | 1.71 ± 0.08 | ||
| Blood lipid profile | ||||||||
| Triacylglycerols (mmol/l) | 1.7 ± 0.19 | 1.7 ± 0.19 | 1.6 ± 0.18 | 1.7 ± 0.18 | 1.8 ± 0.18 | 1.6 ± 0.17 | ||
| HDL-cholesterol (mmol/l) | 1.1 ± 0.04 | 1.0 ± 0.03 | 1.0 ± 0.04 | 1.1 ± 0.05 | 1.1 ± 0.04 | 1.1 ± 0.05 | ||
| LDL-cholesterol (mmol/l) | 3.1 ± 0.14 | 3.0 ± 0.15 | 2.8 ± 0.14 | 3.3 ± 0.14 | 3.2 ± 0.17 | 3.1 ± 0.13 | <0.01 | |
| LDL/HDL ratio | 2.9 ± 0.16 | 2.9 ± 0.18 | 2.8 ± 0.20 | 3.2 ± 0.16 | 3.1 ± 0.17 | 2.9 ± 0.16 | ||
| Total cholesterol (mmol/l) | 4.9 ± 0.19 | 4.8 ± 0.28 | 4.7 ± 0.26 | 5.0 ± 0.13 | 4.9 ± 0.17 | 4.7 ± 0.15 | ||
| NEFA (mmol/l) | 425 ± 27 | 427 ± 26 | 428 ± 31 | 444 ± 18 | 491 ± 33 | 461 ± 33 | ||
| Body composition | ||||||||
| Body weight (kg) | 98.7 ± 3.2 | 98.0 ± 3.3 | 97.6 ± 3.4 | 97.7 ± 3.2 | 96.7 ± 3.1 | 95.9 ± 3.2 | <0.01 | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 32.7 ± 0.8 | 32.4 ± 0.9 | 32.3 ± 0.9 | 32.1 ± 0.9 | 31.7 ± 0.9 | 31.4 ± 0.9 | <0.01 | |
| Trunk fat mass (kg) | 22.1 ± 1.3 | 21.3 ± 1.3 | 21.1 ± 1.4 | 21.6 ± 1.4 | 20.4 ± 1.2 | 19.6 ± 1.2 | <0.01 | <0.05 |
| Legs fat mass (kg) | 7.7 ± 0.7 | 7.7 ± 0.7 | 7.5 ± 0.8 | 7.3 ± 0.8 | 7.1 ± 0.7 | 6.9 ± 0.7 | <0.01 | |
| Trunk lean mass (kg) | 31.3 ± 0.7 | 31.9 ± 0.7 | 32.2 ± 0.7 | 31.4 ± 0.6 | 32.1 ± 0.8 | 32.5 ± 0.8 | <0.01 | |
| Legs lean mass (kg) | 18.8 ± 0.5 | 19.1 ± 0.6 | 19.4 ± 0.6 | 18.9 ± 0.4 | 19.4 ± 0.5 | 19.6 ± 0.5 | <0.01 | |
| Exercise performance | ||||||||
 (l/min) |
2.05 ± 0.11 | 2.21 ± 0.12 | 2.26 ± 0.10 | 1.99 ± 0.09 | 2.31 ± 0.11 | 2.32 ± 0.11 | <0.001 | |
 (ml kg−1 min−1) |
20.9 ± 1.0 | 22.7 ± 1.1 | 23.5 ± 1.1 | 20.8 ± 1.1 | 24.3 ± 1.2 | 24.7 ± 1.2 | <0.001 | |
| Maximal workload capacity (W) | 161 ± 7 | 173 ± 8 | 184 ± 8 | 169 ± 6 | 180 ± 7 | 185 ± 7 | <0.001 | |
| Maximal workload capacity (W/kg) | 1.7 ± 0.1 | 1.8 ± 0.1 | 1.9 ± 0.1 | 1.8 ± 0.1 | 1.9 ± 0.1 | 2.0 ± 0.1 | <0.001 | |
| Maximal heart rate (beats per min) | 139 ± 4 | 138 ± 3 | 141 ± 3 | 139 ± 3 | 140 ± 3 | 139 ± 3 | ||
Data are means ± SEM. Values for leg lean and fat mass are expressed as averages of measurements of both legs
aFasting glucose, insulin, HOMA index and AUC OGTT were determined from an OGTT performed after 3 days of discontinuation of habitual use of oral blood-glucose and lipid-lowering medication