The effect of frequency of activity interruptions in prolonged sitting on postprandial glucose metabolism: A randomized crossover trial

• Published in: Metabolism, clinical and experimental Vol. 96; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: Thorsen, Ida K., Johansen, Mette Y., Pilmark, Nanna S., Jespersen, Naja Z., Brinkløv, Cecilie F., Benatti, Fabiana B., Dunstan, David W., Karstoft, Kristian, Pedersen, Bente K., Ried-Larsen, Mathias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Anaerobic Threshold; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Mass Index; C-Peptide - blood; Cardiometabolic risk; Cross-Over Studies; Exercise - physiology; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Humans; Insulin - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity, Abdominal - physiopathology; Postprandial glucose metabolism; Postprandial lipid metabolism; Postprandial Period; Sedentary Behavior; Sitting Position; Substrate oxidation; Walking; Young Adult; Sedentary behavior; INT120; Cardiometabolic risk; tAUCC-peptide/glucagon; NEFA; VCO2; VO2; tAUCC-peptide/glucose; VO2max; Postprandial lipid metabolism; tAUCinsulin/glucose; EE; INT60; EI; INT20; tAUCinsulin/glucagon; CGM; ECG; Postprandial glucose metabolism; tAUC; HOMA-IR; PA; Walking; REE; iAUC; LPA; OGTT; Substrate oxidation; MET; RER; SIT
• ISSN: 0026-0495; 1532-8600
• DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2019.04.003

The primary objective was to test the hypothesis that increased frequency of interruptions in prolonged sitting reduces postprandial glycemia independent of energy intake and expenditure. Healthy, sedentary, centrally obese men (n = 14; age*, 28.2 (23.4; 38.3) years; BMI, 31.9 ± 6.7 kg/m2; VO2max*, 39.5 (38.8; 40.9) ml/min/kg; HbA1c, 5.3 ± 0.4% (34.1 ± 4.2 mmol/mol); mean ± SD (*median (25th; 75th percentile)) completed four 8-h interventions in randomized order: 1) uninterrupted sitting (SIT), 2) sitting interrupted by 2 min of walking (~30% of VO2max) every 20th minute (INT20), 3) sitting interrupted by 6 min of walking every hour (INT60), and 4) sitting interrupted by 12 min of walking every second hour (INT120). A standardized test drink was served at the beginning of and 4 h into the intervention (total of 2310 ± 247 kcal; 50% energy from carbohydrate, 50% energy from fat). Outcomes included the difference in the 8-h total area under the curve (tAUC) for primarily plasma glucose, and secondarily plasma insulin and C-peptide during INT20, INT60, and INT120 compared to SIT. No difference [95% CI] was observed in the primary outcome, the 8-h tAUC for the plasma glucose, during INT20, INT60, and INT120 compared to SIT (−65.3 mmol/l∗min [−256.3; 125.7], +53.8 mmol/l∗min [−143.1; 250.8], and +18.6 mmol/l∗min [−172.4; 209.6], respectively). Interrupting sitting with increasing frequency did not reduce the postprandial plasma glucose response to prolonged sitting in healthy, sedentary, centrally obese men. •Interruption frequency of sitting time does not affect postprandial glucose response.•Interrupting sitting time every 20th minute decreased postprandial C-peptide response.•Interrupting sitting time every 20th minute increased postprandial fat oxidation.•Lower insulin secretion suggests insulin sparing, and thus possible metabolic benefit.•Interrupting sitting time frequently may be a feasible behavioral prevention target.