Biomarkers of endothelial function and insulin resistance response to aerobic exercise versus resisted exercises in obese type 2 diabetic patients

Background: The risk of endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance is higher in type 2 diabetes mellitus which could be modulated with exercise training. However, to our knowledge, there is no clinical studies have addressed which exercise specific type is superior in modulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective: This study aimed to determine the differences in response of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance to aerobic versus resistance exercises in type 2 diabetic patients. Material and methods: Eighty obese type 2 diabetic patients participated in this study and were included into two groups, group (A) received aerobic exercises; where group (B) received resistance exercises for 12 months. Results: The mean values of Inter-Cellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM-1), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule (VCAM-1), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), E-selectin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1c) and Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly decreased in both groups at the end of the study. However, the mean values of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and tPA:Ag were more significantly reduced in group (A), while the mean values of HBA1c and HOMA-IR were more significantly reduced in group (B) and there were significant differences between both groups at the end of the study. Conclusion: Based on our findings, resistance exercise appears to be more beneficial than aerobic exercise for improving insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Also, aerobic exercise appears to be more beneficial than resistance exercise for improving endothelial function in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Correspondence to: Shehab M Abd El-Kader, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80324, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia, Tel: +966-569849276; E-mail: [email protected]