A bout of aerobic exercise in the heat increases carbohydrate use but does not enhance the disposal of an oral glucose load, in healthy active individuals

Ricardo Mora-Rodriguez, Alfonso Moreno-Cabañas, Laura Alvarez-Jimenez, Diego Mora-Gonzalez, Juan Fernando Ortega, Felix Morales-Palomo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

We investigated if a bout of exercise in a hot environment (HEAT) would reduce the postprandial hyperglycemia induced by glucose ingestion. The hypothesis was that HEAT stimulating carbohydrate oxidation and glycogen use would increase the disposal of an ingested glucose load [i.e., oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); 75 g of glucose]. Separated by at least 1 wk, nine young healthy individuals underwent three trials after an overnight fast in a randomized order. Two trials included 50 min of pedaling at 58 ± 5% V_ O2max either in a thermoneutral (21 ± 1°C; NEUTRAL) or in a hot environment (33 ± 1°C; HEAT) eliciting similar energy expenditure (503 ± 101 kcal). These two trials were compared with a no-exercise trial (NO EXER). Twenty minutes after exercise (or rest), subjects underwent an OGTT, while carbohydrate oxidation (CHOxid, using indirect calorimetry) plasma blood glucose, insulin concentrations (i.e., [glucose], [insulin]), and double tracer glucose kinetics ([U-13C] glucose ingestion and [6,6-2H2] glucose infusion) were monitored for 120 min. At rest, [glucose], [insulin], and rates of appearance/disappearance of glucose in plasma (glucose Ra/Rd) were similar among trials. During exercise, heart rate, tympanic temperature, [glucose], glycogen oxidation, and total CHOxid were higher during HEAT than NEUTRAL (i.e., 149 ± 35 vs. 124 ± 31 lmol·kg-1·min-1, P = 0.010). However, during the following OGTT, glucose Rd was similar in HEAT and NEUTRAL trials (i.e., 25.1 ± 3.6 vs. 25.2 ± 5.3 lmol·kg-1·min-1, P = 0.981). Insulin sensitivity (i.e., ISIndexMATSUDA) only improved in NEUTRAL compared with NO EXER (10.1 ± 4.6 vs. 8.8 ± 3.7 au; P = 0.044). In summary, stimulating carbohydrate use with exercise in a hot environment does not improve postprandial plasma glucose disposal or insulin sensitivity in a subsequent OGTT.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E648-E662
Number of pages15
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume326
Issue number5
Early online date30 Apr 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 May 2024
Externally publishedYes

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available upon reasonable request.

Funding

This work was partially funded by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation PID2020-116159RB-I00 and European Community funds.

FundersFunder number
Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovacionPID2020-116159RB-I00
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion

    Keywords

    • exercise
    • glucose kinetics
    • hyperthermia
    • insulin resistance
    • stable isotopes

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Medicine

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A bout of aerobic exercise in the heat increases carbohydrate use but does not enhance the disposal of an oral glucose load, in healthy active individuals'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this