Moderate Postmeal Walking Has No Beneficial Effects Over Resting on Postprandial Lipemia, Glycemia, Insulinemia, and Selected Oxidative and Inflammatory Parameters in Older Adults with a Cardiovascular Disease Risk Phenotype: A Randomized Crossover Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of postprandial walking versus rest on metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative responses after consuming different meal types (Western vs. Mediterranean) in older adults at increased CVD risk.
Results Summary
Walking did not significantly differ from resting in most postprandial outcomes, though it increased plasma IL-6 and vitamin C levels. The Mediterranean diet showed superior effects on triglycerides and other parameters compared to the Western diet, but no meal × activity interactions were significant.
Population
Older adults (aged 70 ± 5 y; BMI 30.3 ± 2.3 kg/m²) with increased CVD risk (26 participants).
Effective Dosage
30 minutes of walking at 4.6 ± 0.1 km/h post-meal.
Duration
Acute effects measured over 4.5 hours postprandially.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western diet high-fat meal | increase | Triglycerides | older adults with an increased CVD risk | AUC in mmol/L × min: WD-W, 218 ± 15.2; WD-R, 207 ± 12.6; MD-W, 139 ± 9.83; MD-R, 149 ± 8.15 | were higher after | #1 |
Mediterranean-type diet meal | increase | Plasma glucose | older adults with an increased CVD risk | WD-W, 222 ± 34.9; WD-R, 177 ± 32.8; MD-W, 314 ± 44.4; MD-R, 275 ± 57.8 | were higher after | #2 |
Mediterranean-type diet meal | increase | serum insulin | older adults with an increased CVD risk | AUC in nmol/L × min: WD-W, 82.0 ± 10.3; WD-R, 88.6 ± 12.8; MD-W, 129 ± 14.7; MD-R, 138 ± 20.5 | was higher after | #3 |
walking | increase | Plasma IL-6 | older adults with an increased CVD risk | AUC in pg/mL × min: WD-W, 72.0 ± 34.0; WD-R, 14.3 ± 38.8; MD-W, 70.8 ± 39.4; MD-R, 5.60 ± 26.0 | was higher after | #4 |
Mediterranean-type diet meal | increase | Plasma vitamin C | older adults with an increased CVD risk | AUC in mg/L × min: WD-W, -305 ± 59.6; WD-R, -396 ± 84.0; MD-W, 113 ± 56.4; MD-R, -44.5 ± 48.1 | was higher after | #5 |
walking | increase | Plasma vitamin C | older adults with an increased CVD risk | AUC in mg/L × min: WD-W, -305 ± 59.6; WD-R, -396 ± 84.0; MD-W, 113 ± 56.4; MD-R, -44.5 ± 48.1 | was higher after | #6 |
Western diet high-fat meal or Mediterranean-type diet meal | no change | NEFAs | older adults with an increased CVD risk | WD-W, -43.5 ± 7.08; WD-R, -49.2 ± 6.94; MD-W, -48.0 ± 11.6; MD-R, -67.6 ± 7.58 | No meal or activity effect was observed | #7 |
Western diet high-fat meal or Mediterranean-type diet meal | no change | parameters of oxidation and endothelial adhesion molecules | older adults with an increased CVD risk | - | We observed no meal or activity effects on | #8 |
Western diet high-fat meal or Mediterranean-type diet meal combined with walking or rest | no change | all outcomes | older adults with an increased CVD risk | - | Our data revealed no significant meal × activity effects on | #9 |
BACKGROUND: Research suggests that postprandial events, as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), are influenced by meal composition and exercise. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of walking versus rest on postprandial metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative events following the consumption of test meals reflecting 2 different dietary patterns in older adults with an increased CVD risk. METHODS: A randomized crossover trial was conducted in 26 men and women (aged 70 ± 5 y; BMI 30.3 ± 2.3 kg/m2). Each adult participated in 4 treatments combining 1 of 2 iso-energetic (4300 kJ) meals [Western diet high-fat meal (WD): total fat, 59.4 g; saturated fatty acids, 32.0 g, dietary fiber, 4.2 g; or Mediterranean-type diet meal (MD): total fat, 40.1 g; saturated fatty acids, 5.1 g; dietary fiber, 14.5 g] with 30 min walking (4.6 ± 0.1 km/h) or rest. Primary (serum triglycerides) and secondary [serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs); parameters of glucose metabolism, inflammation, endothelial activation, oxidation; blood pressure/heart rate] outcomes were measured at fasting and 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 h postprandially. Data were analyzed by linear mixed models. RESULTS: Triglycerides were higher after the WD than after the MD [AUC in mmol/L × min: Western diet high-fat meal plus postprandial walking (WD-W), 218 ± 15.2; Western diet high-fat meal plus postprandial resting (WD-R), 207 ± 12.6; Mediterranean-type diet meal plus postprandial walking (MD-W), 139 ± 9.83; Mediterranean-type diet meal plus postprandial resting (MD-R), 149 ± 8.15; P < 0.001]. No meal or activity effect was observed for NEFAs based on AUC data (WD-W, -43.5 ± 7.08; WD-R, -49.2 ± 6.94; MD-W, -48.0 ± 11.6; MD-R, -67.6 ± 7.58). Plasma glucose was higher after the MD than after the WD (WD-W, 222 ± 34.9; WD-R, 177 ± 32.8; MD-W, 314 ± 44.4; MD-R, 275 ± 57.8; P < 0.001), as was serum insulin (AUC in nmol/L × min: WD-W, 82.0 ± 10.3; WD-R, 88.6 ± 12.8; MD-W, 129 ± 14.7; MD-R, 138 ± 20.5; P < 0.001). Plasma IL-6 was higher after walking than after resting (AUC in pg/mL × min: WD-W, 72.0 ± 34.0; WD-R, 14.3 ± 38.8; MD-W, 70.8 ± 39.4; MD-R, 5.60 ± 26.0; P < 0.05). Plasma vitamin C was higher after the MD than after the WD (P < 0.001) and after walking than after resting (P < 0.05; AUC in mg/L × min: WD-W, -305 ± 59.6; WD-R, -396 ± 84.0; MD-W, 113 ± 56.4; MD-R, -44.5 ± 48.1). We observed no meal or activity effects on parameters of oxidation and endothelial adhesion molecules. Our data revealed no significant meal × activity effects on all outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In older adults with an increased CVD risk, the MD was associated with superior effects on several postprandial parameters (e.g., triglycerides), in comparison to the WD. Data revealed no relevant differences regarding the effects of postmeal walking and resting. None of the 4 treatments can be rated as superior regarding their acute effects on the shown postprandial metabolic, oxidative, and inflammatory parameters. The trial was registered at German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; http://www.germanctr.de and http://www.drks.de) under identifier DRKS00012409.