Sitting less elicits metabolic responses similar to exercise and enhances insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women
Authors:
Carlijn M. E. Remie, Georges E. Janssens, Lena Bilet, Michel van Weeghel, Bernard M. F. M. Duvivier, Vera H. W. de Wit, Niels J. Connell, Johanna A. Jörgensen, Bauke V. Schomakers, Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling, Joris Hoeks, Matthijs K. C. Hesselink, Esther Phielix, Riekelt H. Houtkooper, Patrick Schrauwen
In our current society sedentary behaviour predominates in most people and is associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It has been suggested that replacing sitting time by standing and walking could be beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes but the underlying mechanisms are unknown and direct comparisons with exercise are lacking. Our objective was to directly compare metabolic responses of either sitting less or exercising, relative to being sedentary.
Methods
We performed a randomised, crossover intervention study in 12 overweight women who performed three well-controlled 4 day activity regimens: (1) sitting regimen (sitting 14 h/day); (2) exercise regimen (sitting 13 h/day, exercise 1 h/day); and (3) sitting less regimen (sitting 9 h/day, standing 4 h/day and walking 3 h/day). The primary outcome was insulin sensitivity measured by a two-step hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp. We additionally performed metabolomics on muscle biopsies taken before the clamp to identify changes at the molecular level.
Results
Replacing sitting time by standing and walking over 4 days resulted in improved peripheral insulin sensitivity, comparable with the improvement achieved by moderate-to-vigorous exercise. Specifically, we report a significant improvement in peripheral insulin sensitivity in the sitting less (~13%) and the exercise regimen (~20%), compared with the sitting regimen. Furthermore, sitting less shifted the underlying muscle metabolome towards that seen with moderate-to-vigorous exercise, compared with the sitting regimen.
Conclusions/interpretations
Replacing sitting time by standing and walking is an attractive alternative to moderate-to-vigorous exercise for improving metabolic health.
Sitting less elicits metabolic responses similar to exercise and enhances insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women
Authors
Carlijn M. E. Remie Georges E. Janssens Lena Bilet Michel van Weeghel Bernard M. F. M. Duvivier Vera H. W. de Wit Niels J. Connell Johanna A. Jörgensen Bauke V. Schomakers Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling Joris Hoeks Matthijs K. C. Hesselink Esther Phielix Riekelt H. Houtkooper Patrick Schrauwen
WHO estimates that half of all patients worldwide are non-adherent to their prescribed medication. The consequences of poor adherence can be catastrophic, on both the individual and population level.
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.