In the present study the investigators compared the hormonal and metabolic effects of three meal loads very popular among Italian eating habits, both in the resting- and exercising state. Given the lack of time is considered a common barrier to exercise adherence, we wanted to identify a low dose of exercise capable to produce health benefits in the post-absorptive status elicited by three commonly consumed meal-models in Mediterranean countries. To this end, healthy young volunteers firstly underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and three meal tolerance tests. Secondly, in an extra set of experiments, subjects cycled at low intensity for the last 20 minutes of the same glucose/meal tolerance test. Glycemia, insulinemia, ghrelinemia, lipidemia, and satiety were measured throughout OGTT and each test-meal load.
The investigators evaluated postprandial responses (glucose, insulin, ghrelin, free fatty acids (FFA)) elicited by three diverse test-meal loads followed by a 20-min bout of low-intensity aerobic exercise were investigated. All subjects underwent a 50-g OGTT (A) and 3 test-meal loads: milk and cereals (B1); milk, apple and chocolate cream-filled sponge cake (B2); milk, bread, apple and hazelnut chocolate cream (B3). In the exercise trial, participants cycled for 20 minutes at 40% VO2max, 100 minutes after load ingestion.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
19
All subjects received a standard 75-g OGTT to assess eligibility for the study. The 19 subjects matching the inclusion criteria completed 2 experimental trials: resting and exercise. During the resting trial, all subjects underwent an OGTT (50-g: A) and 3 meal tolerance tests \[one for each breakfast tested: B1 = milk (125ml) and cereals (30g); B2 = milk (220ml), apple (200g) and chocolate cream-filled sponge cake (30g); B3 = milk (125ml), apple (150g), bread (50g) and hazelnut chocolate cream (15g)\]. In the exercise trial, 100 minutes after the glucose/meal ingestion, participants cycled for 20 min at 40% of maximum oxygen uptake.
aerobic exercise at 40% of VO2max, for 20 minutes
Plasma glucose responses of a single bout of low-intensity exercise following mixed meals in healthy individuals.
Postprandial glycemic responses elicited by three diverse test-meal loads followed by a 20-min bout of low-intensity aerobic exercise.
Time frame: The entire study lasted for 9 experimental days (1 day for eligibility, 4 days for resting trial, 4 days for exercise trial).
Plasma insulin responses of a single bout of low-intensity exercise following mixed meals in healthy individuals.
Postprandial insulinemic responses elicited by three diverse test-meal loads followed by a 20-min bout of low-intensity aerobic exercise.
Time frame: The entire study lasted for 9 experimental days (1 day for eligibility, 4 days for resting trial, 4 days for exercise trial).
Plasma ghrelin responses of a single bout of low-intensity exercise following mixed meals in healthy individuals.
Postprandial ghrelinemic responses elicited by three diverse test-meal loads followed by a 20-min bout of low-intensity aerobic exercise.
Time frame: The entire study lasted for 9 experimental days (1 day for eligibility, 4 days for resting trial, 4 days for exercise trial).
Plasma free fatty acids (FFA) responses of a single bout of low-intensity exercise following mixed meals in healthy individuals.
Postprandial plasma FFA responses elicited by three diverse test-meal loads followed by a 20-min bout of low-intensity aerobic exercise.
Time frame: The entire study lasted for 9 experimental days (1 day for eligibility, 4 days for resting trial, 4 days for exercise trial).
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