When swimmer faces glucose challenge

Introduction

Trained swimmer typically exhibits greater fatness during training period but exhibits significantly greater exercise time than average people [1]. The purpose of the study was to determine the characteristic in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in collegiate swimmers. The relationship between insulin sensitivity and blood lipid profile were also investigated.

Methods

Nine collegiate swimmers (age 20.6± 0.53) and sixteen sedentary college students (age 19.7± 0.11) voluntarily participated this study. Under fasted condition, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin response were measured at least 48 hours after the last bout of regular swimming training. The blood cholesterol and triglyceride were also determined.

Results

These swimmers displyed significant greater waist-to-hip ratio and BMI than those of sedentary students (P < 0.05), indicating a trend toward obesity. Regardless, glucose tolerance was not different between swimmers and sedentary students, but the insulin response during OGTT was significantly smaller in swimmers than that in sedentary students. In addition, blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in swimmers than sedentary students.

Discussion/Conclusion

The current study demonstrated that swimming training could enhance insulin sensitivity but greater blood lipid levels appears to be associated with greater fatness.

References

[1]. Flynn MG, Costill DL, Kirwan JP, Mitchell JB, Houmard JA, Fink WJ, Beltz JD, and D’Acquisto LJ (1990). Fat storage in athletes: metabolic and hormonal responses to swimming and running. Int J Sport Med 11:433-440.