Abstract
It is unclear whether neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has meaningful metabolic effects when users have the opportunity to self-select the intensity to one that can be comfortably tolerated. Nine healthy men aged 28 6 9y (mean 6 SD) with a body mass index 22.3 6 2.3 kg/m2 completed 3 trials involving a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test whilst, in a randomised counterbalanced order, (1) sitting motionless (SIT), (2) standing motionless (STAND); and (3) sitting motionless with NMES of quadriceps and calves at a self-selected tolerable intensity. The mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) total energy expenditure was greater in the NMES trial (221 [180–262] kcal/2 h) and STAND trial (178 [164–191] kcal/2 h) than during SIT (159 [150–167] kcal/2 h) (both, p < 0.05). This was primarily driven by an increase in carbohydrate oxidation in the NMES and STAND trials compared with the SIT trial (p < 0.05). Postprandial insulin iAUC was lower in both NMES and STAND compared with SIT (16.4 [7.7–25.1], 17 [7–27] and 22.6 [10.8–34.4] nmol·120 min/L, respectively; both, p < 0.05). Compared with sitting, both NMES and STAND increased energy expenditure and whole-body carbohydrate oxidation and reduced postprandial insulin concentrations in healthy men, with more pronounced effects seen with NMES. Self-selected NMES is a potential strategy for improving metabolic health. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04389736). Novelty: • NMES at a comfortable intensity enhances energy expenditure and carbohydrate oxidation, and reduces postprandial insulinemia. • Thus, self-selected NMES represents a potential strategy to improve metabolic health.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 27-33 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 17 Aug 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 31 Jan 2022 |
Funding
The authors thank all the participants for their time and effort in participating in this project. This project was funded by the University of Bath. Author contributions: Yung-Chih Chen was responsible for the study design and conduct, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, statistical analysis, and manuscript revision. Russell G. Davies, Aaron Hengist, Harriet A. Carroll, and Oliver J. Perkin were responsible for data collection and manuscript revision. James A. Betts was responsible for revising the manuscript. Dylan Thompson was responsible for funding, study design, data interpretation, and manuscript revision.
Keywords
- Carbohydrate oxidation
- Glucose control
- Insulin resistance
- NMES
- Standing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Physiology
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Physiology (medical)