Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Visceral Fat Impact the Relationship between Psychological Fitness and Metabolic Syndrome in Japanese Males with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Effects of Aerobic Exercise vs. Resistance Training on Endothelial Function in Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

There is controversy over whether aerobic or resistance exercise is more effective for improving endothelial function in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study was aimed to investigate the effects of an aerobic and resistance training program on endothelial function, and the influences of glycemic control, body weight changes, and aerobic capacity in T2DM.

METHODS

Total 40 overweight women with T2DM were assigned into 3 groups: an aerobic exercise group (AEG, n=13), resistance exercise group (REG, n=12), and control group (CG, n=15), and followed either brisk walking for the AEG or resistance band training for the REG, 60 minutes per day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks with monitoring daily activity using accelerometers. We assessed endothelial function by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and aerobic capacity by oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (AT_VO(2)) at baseline and following training program.

RESULTS

The mean participants' age was 57.0±6.8 years, and body mass index (BMI) was 27.0±2.3 kg/m(2). After intervention, FMD increased by 2.2±1.9% in AEG, which differed from REG and CG (P=0.002), despite of decreased body weight (BW) in both AG and RG (2.8±2.5%, P=0.002; 1.6±2.0%, P=0.017, respectively). A significant increased AT_VO(2) and decreased HbA1c were found only in AEG. In all participants, FMD was changed with the significant relations to the AT_VO(2) (r=0.348, P=0.035), but not to HbA1c levels or BW.

CONCLUSION

Aerobic exercise appears to be more beneficial than resistance exercise for improving endothelial function in T2DM. In addition, aerobic capacity could be a better predictor of changes in FMD than BW and glycemic control.

Psychological distress predicts the development of the metabolic syndrome: a prospective population-based study

OBJECTIVE

To examine prospectively the association of psychological distress with the development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the potential influence of demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and inflammation in this association.

METHODS

A total of 466 (n = 185 males; 281 females) subjects, aged 36 to 56 years, and free of MetS at baseline, participated in a population-based study from 1997 to 1998 and again from 2004 to 2005. Mean observation time was 6.4 years. Various clinical, biochemical, and behavioral factors were measured at baseline, including assessment of psychological distress using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. The development of MetS was measured at follow-up based on National Cholesterol Education Program criteria.

RESULTS

Subjects with high psychological distress at baseline (General Health Questionnaire scores, 4-12) were more than twice as likely to develop MetS than those with low psychological distress (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-3.64). Adjustments for 1) age, gender, and sociodemographic variables; 2) health behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, and leisure time physical activity); and 3) C-reactive protein in the analysis diminished the odds of developing MetS in the distressed group (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.83 and 1.81, respectively); however, the association remained statistically significant (p = .025-.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological distress at baseline increases the risk of developing MetS during follow-up. This association remained robust after adjusting for age, gender, sociodemographic variables, baseline health behaviors, and C-reactive protein. These prospective findings are evidence of a significant association between psychological distress and the development of MetS.