Exercise Reduces Resistin and Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is associated with an excessive risk of cardiovascular events (1). On the other hand, physical activity reduces cardiovascular morbidity in diabetic patients (2). Resistin and numerous inflammatory markers (e.g., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], interleukin [IL]-6, and IL-18) have emerged as novel predictors of cardiovascular diseases (3–5). We hypothesized that exercise could afford pleiotropic cardioprotective actions by modifying these factors in type 2 diabetic patients. The study included 60 overweight/obese patients (BMI >25 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes who consented to participate. All patients were on a stable antidiabetes regimen (sulfonylureas and/or metfromin) but with inadequate glycemic control (A1C >6.5%). Smokers and patients receiving lipid-lowering medications, insulin, or thiazolidinediones were rejected. Those with diabetic vascular complications, life-threatening diseases, orthopedic problems, or liver and renal impairment were also excluded. Participants retained their eating patterns, and they were randomly assigned to either the exercise group ( n = 30) or control group ( n = 30). ### Exercise training All subjects were inactive, and none reported engaging in systemic (more than one time per week) sport activities before the study. Patients in the exercise group underwent a 16-week aerobic exercise training program consisting of four 45–60 min sessions per week (50–85% maximum oxygen consumption [ V o2max]). Exercise modality was based on the recent recommendations of the American Diabetes Association (6). The workload was individualized according to the initial physical fitness assessment and gradually increased with continuous electocardiographic measurement. Aerobic exercise consisted mainly of walking or running on a treadmill, cycling, and calisthenics involving upper and lower limbs. Moreover, subjects in the exercise group were encouraged to increase daily physical activities (brisk walking, …