PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Boulé, Normand G. AU - Weisnagel, S. John AU - Lakka, Timo A. AU - Tremblay, Angelo AU - Bergman, Richard N. AU - Rankinen, Tuomo AU - Leon, Arthur S. AU - Skinner, James S. AU - Wilmore, Jack H. AU - Rao, D.C. AU - Bouchard, Claude TI - Effects of Exercise Training on Glucose Homeostasis AID - 10.2337/diacare.28.1.108 DP - 2005 Jan 01 TA - Diabetes Care PG - 108--114 VI - 28 IP - 1 4099 - http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/1/108.short 4100 - http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/1/108.full SO - Diabetes Care2005 Jan 01; 28 AB - OBJECTIVE—To determine the effect of a 20-week endurance training program in healthy, previously sedentary participants on measures derived from an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—An IVGTT was performed before and after a standardized training program in 316 women and 280 men (173 blacks and 423 whites). Participants exercised on cycle ergometers 3 days per week for 60 sessions. The exercise intensity was progressively increased from 55% Vo2max for 30 min per session to 75% Vo2max for 50 min per session. RESULTS—Mean insulin sensitivity increased by 10% (P < 0.001) following the intervention, but the variability in the changes was high. Men had larger improvements than women (P = 0.02). Improvements in fasting insulin were transitory, disappearing 72 h after the last bout of exercise. There were also significant mean increases in the glucose disappearance index (3%, P = 0.02) and in glucose effectiveness (11%, P < 0.001), measures of glucose tolerance and of the capacity of glucose to mediate its own disposal, respectively. The acute insulin response to glucose, a measure of insulin secretion, increased by 7% in the quartile with the lowest baseline glucose tolerance and decreased by 14% in the quartile with the highest baseline glucose tolerance (P < 0.001). The glucose area below fasting levels during the IVGTT was reduced by 7% (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS—Although the effects of structured regular exercise were highly variable, there were improvements in virtually all IVGTT-derived variables. In the absence of substantial weight loss, regular exercise is required for sustained improvements in glucose homeostasis.