One minute of stair climbing and descending reduces postprandial insulin and glucose with three-minutes improving insulin resistance following a mixed meal in young adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Physiology (Bethesda, Md.) Md.), 2024-05, Vol.39 (S1)
• Main Authors: Moore, Jeff, Kressler, Jochen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1548-9213; 1548-9221
• DOI: 10.1152/physiol.2024.39.S1.999

Abstract only Glycemic markers, including postprandial glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity, are strong predictors of morbidity and mortality in individuals with and without diabetes. Stair-climbing and -descending (SCD) at a comfortable pace for as little as 1 to 3 minutes after a sugary beverage (300 kilocalories; 100% carbohydrate) improves glucose and insulin, with insulin sensitivity improving with as little as 10 minutes. Objective: To determine if benefits to glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity are seen with SCD following consumption of a meal with mixed macronutrients. Hypothesis: SCD will improve to glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity in a dose response manner following a mixed meal. Methods: In a randomized, controlled, crossover trial, young adults (N=31) in apparent good health performed SCD for 0, 1, 3, and 10 minutes after a mixed meal (650 kilocalories; 53% carbohydrates, 33% fat, and 14% protein). Differences in glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity (ISI) from baseline to 30 minutes were analyzed using a mixed-effects ANOVA. Results: A significant fixed-effect was found for change in glucose [F(2.551,67.17)=4.724, p=.0071)], insulin [F(2.692,74.49)=11.28, p