Intermittent sitting reduces inflammatory lipids in diabetes

Interrupting sitting with light walks or simple resistance activities reduced lipids associated with inflammation among adults with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers in Australia.

“There are over 500 lipid species present in plasma which, in addition to their role as energy substrates, are important inflammatory and signaling mediators,” Megan S. Grace, PhD, MSc, BPhEd, of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues wrote. “Recent studies have demonstrated that meal composition and an acute exercise bout can modulate plasma and tissue lipidome profiles. However, the potential benefits of breaking up prolonged sitting on the postprandial lipidome have yet to be explored.”

The researchers performed a randomized, cross-over experimental trial in which 13 men and eight women were placed in three conditions for 7 hours each: uninterrupted sitting, light-intensity walking, and simple resistance-activity interruptions. All participants were considered inactive, with either overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes (mean age, 63 years; 20 participants were taking metformin, and 15 were on statins).

Researchers compared baseline fasting plasma samples with samples obtained after the 7 hours had elapsed. Grace and colleagues used mass spectrometry to analyze the plasma for 338 different lipid species.

Overall, researchers reported differences in 37 lipids between conditions (P < .05). Light walking and simple resistance interruptions reduced postprandial elevations of diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols and phosphatidylcholines compared with uninterrupted sitting. Grace and colleagues wrote that uninterrupted sitting reduced plasmalogens and lysoalkylphosphatidylcholines compared with lesser reductions or elevations associated with walking and resistance activities. Light walking elevated phosphatidylserines, while uninterrupted sitting and resistance activities resulted in reductions.

“This study builds on recent findings that the postprandial lipidome can be modified by alterations in diet and exercise, and it poses a number of questions for future research,” Grace and colleagues wrote. “We have shown that regular active interruptions in sitting may be of benefit in reducing postprandial pro-inflammatory lipids and increasing concentrations of lipids with antioxidant capacity in adults with well-controlled non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes.” – by Andy Polhamus

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.