Context: Insulin resistance and dysglycemia are associated with physical inactivity and adiposity, and may be improved by exercise.
Objective: Investigate the effect of exercise on insulin sensitivity, body composition and adipose depots in sedentary men with (n = 11) or without (n = 11) overweight and dysglycemia.
Material and methods: Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, ankle-to-neck MRI, MRS, muscle and adipose tissue biopsies before and after 12 weeks combined strength and endurance exercise.
Results: Insulin sensitivity, VO2max, strength, whole-body and muscle fat content, and abdominal adipose depots were improved without obvious differences between normo- and dysglycemic men. Hepatic fat, waist circumference and subcutaneous adipose tissue were reduced in the dysglycemic group. For both groups plasma adiponectin was reduced, whereas IL-6 was unchanged. Visceral fat was preferentially lost compared with other adipose depots.
Discussion and conclusion: Body composition, fat distribution and insulin sensitivity improved following training in sedentary middle-aged men with and without dysglycemia.
Keywords: Adipokines; muscle fat; myokines; prediabetes; visceral fat.