Resistance training lowers blood sugar, body fat percentage in prediabetes: Study

Resistance training (RT) is an effective intervention for glycemic control and cardiometabolic health in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the use of RT in individuals at risk for T2D to prevent or delay the onset of T2D, and RT program characteristics that are most effective are still unknown. There are multiple potential mechanisms by which RT can improve glycemic control. The pathogenesis of impaired glucose regulation and eventually T2D is largely influenced by insulin resistance, with decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in tissues resulting in elevated BG levels . One potential mechanism involves skeletal muscle providing significant glucose uptake via glucose transporters  such as glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), which performs insulin-stimulated glucose uptake [63]. RT can increase the protein content of GLUT4, and increased muscle mass can enhance glucose uptake . Therefore, characteristics of RT programs that enhance muscular hypertrophy may improve glycemic control.

The purpose of this recent review is to determine the effects of RT on cardiometabolic risk factors in those at risk for T2D and to examine RT program characteristics associated with intervention effectiveness.

For the study design, PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Embase databases were systematically searched for published controlled trials that compared cardiometabolic outcomes in adults with cardiometabolic risk for those that underwent an RT intervention with those that did not. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect of RT on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood sugar, body fat percentage (BF%), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TG). Additional analyses examined effects of intervention duration and dietary intervention on FPG and TG.

Results revealed some key facts.

• Fourteen trials with 668 participants were included. For RT compared to controls, the standardized mean difference (SMD) was −1.064 for HbA1c (95% confidence interval [CI] −1.802 to −0.327; p=0.005), −0.99 for FPG (95% CI −1.798 to −0.183; p=0.016), −0.933 for TC (95% CI −1.66 to −0.206; p=0.012), −0.840 for BF% (95% CI −1.429 to −0.251; p=0.005), −0.693 for HDL (95% CI −1.230 to −0.156; p=0.011), −1.03 for LDL (95% CI −2.03 to −0.050; p=0.039), and −0.705 for TG (95% CI −1.132 to −0.279; p=0.001).
• Significant reductions in HbA1c and FPG in individuals with increased metabolic risk undergoing RT interventions alone compared to a CG, demonstrating the potential of RT to improve glycemic control and prevent hyperglycemia-associated complications , was noted.
• Free weight and resistance band training at intensities above 60% one-repetition maximum are effective for improving glycemic control and blood lipid profiles in adults at risk for T2D.
• A dietary component combined with RT is not more effective for glycemic control than RT alone in adults at risk for T2D.

" RT may be an effective intervention for delaying or preventing the onset of T2D and can be recommended by clinicians to those at risk for T2D to improve cardiometabolic outcomes."the team concluded.

For full article follow the link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-021-00321-x

Source: Sports Medicine