Insulin resistance and glucose tolerance in obese women: the effects of a recreational training program.

AIM: This study was designed to investigate whether recreational physical activity based on aquatic training may improve lipid profile and glucose tolerance in obese subjects. Additionally, we intended to assess a possible correlation between insulin resistance index HOMA(IR) with another index including serum adiponectin concentrations.
METHODS: Study population consisted of 12 obese women aged 44-61, who volunteered for an aquatic training 1 h twice a week for 3 months. Before entering the training program, and after completing it patients' oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Glucose, insulin and adiponectin concentrations, levels of antibodies to oxidatively modified low-density lipoproteins (oLAB), and lipid profiles were measured in blood samples collected before the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Glucose and insulin concentrations were also assessed in blood samples collected at 30 and 120 min of OGTT. Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and insulin sensitivity indexes HOMA(IR) and HOMA(AD) were calculated on the basis of the obtained data.
RESULTS: The 3-month, recreational aquatic training had no influence on body mass, but it resulted in improved glucose tolerance (at t = 0 and t = 120 min), decreased index (HOMA(IR)), and decreased levels of total and LDL-cholesterol (P<0.05). Adiponectin concentrations and values of HOMA(AD) remained unchanged. We found a significant correlation between adiponectin levels and concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol, and between insulin indexes HOMA(IR) and HOMA(AD) both before, and after the training (P<0.01).
CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that a 3-month recreational training consisting in water aerobic results in favorable changes in glucose and lipid metabolism in obese subjects, even despite the lack of improvement in body mass.