Eight Weeks of Intermittent Exercise in Hypoxia, with or without a Low-Carbohydrate Diet, Improves Bone Mass and Functional and Physiological Capacity in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effects of combining a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) with exercise in hypoxia (EH) on body composition, functional capacity, and physiologic outcomes in older T2DM patients.
Results Summary
The study found that EH combined with LCD improved bone mineral content (BMC), glycemic control, and functional capacity more than exercise alone. VO2peak and body composition also improved, with greater benefits observed in the hypoxia groups.
Population
Older adults with type 2 diabetes (n = 42).
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
control diet + exercise in normoxia | decrease | body mass index | older T2DM patients | - | decreased | #1 |
control diet + exercise in normoxia | decrease | body fat | older T2DM patients | - | decreased | #2 |
control diet + exercise in normoxia | increase | bone mineral content | older T2DM patients | - | increased | #3 |
control diet + exercise in normoxia | increase | VO2peak | older T2DM patients | - | improved | #4 |
control diet + exercise in normoxia | increase | functional capacity | older T2DM patients | - | increased | #5 |
control diet + exercise in hypoxia | decrease | body mass index | older T2DM patients | - | decreased | #6 |
control diet + exercise in hypoxia | decrease | body fat | older T2DM patients | - | decreased | #7 |
control diet + exercise in hypoxia | increase | bone mineral content | older T2DM patients | - | increased | #8 |
control diet + exercise in hypoxia | increase | VO2peak | older T2DM patients | - | improved | #9 |
control diet + exercise in hypoxia | increase | functional capacity | older T2DM patients | - | increased | #10 |
low-carbohydrate diet + exercise in hypoxia | decrease | body mass index | older T2DM patients | - | decreased | #11 |
low-carbohydrate diet + exercise in hypoxia | decrease | body fat | older T2DM patients | - | decreased | #12 |
low-carbohydrate diet + exercise in hypoxia | increase | bone mineral content | older T2DM patients | - | increased | #13 |
low-carbohydrate diet + exercise in hypoxia | increase | VO2peak | older T2DM patients | - | improved | #14 |
low-carbohydrate diet + exercise in hypoxia | increase | functional capacity | older T2DM patients | - | increased | #15 |
exercise in hypoxia | increase | bone mineral content | older T2DM patients | - | significantly higher | #16 |
low-carbohydrate diet + exercise in hypoxia | increase | bone mineral content | older T2DM patients | - | significantly higher | #17 |
exercise in hypoxia | increase | VO2peak | older T2DM patients | - | improved more | #18 |
exercise in hypoxia | increase | functional capacity | older T2DM patients | - | increased more | #19 |
exercise in hypoxia with and without an LCD | increase | bone mass | T2DM patients | - | therapeutic strategy for improving | #20 |
In an increasingly aging and overweight population, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are major public health concerns. T2DM patients experience prejudicial effects on their bone health, affecting their physical capacity. Exercise in hypoxia (EH) and a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) have been suggested for therapeutic benefits in T2DM, improving bone mineral content (BMC) and glycemic control. This study investigated the effects of EH combined with an LCD on body composition and functional and physiologic capacity in T2DM patients. Older T2DM patients (n = 42) were randomly assigned to the following groups: (1) control group: control diet + exercise in normoxia; (2) EH group: control diet + EH; (3) intervention group: LCD + EH. Cardiopulmonary tests (BRUCE protocol), body composition (DEXA), and functional capacity (6MWT, handgrip strength) were evaluated. Body mass index (kg/m2) and body fat (%) decreased in all groups (p < 0.001). BMC (kg) increased in all groups (p < 0.001) and was significantly higher in the EH and EH + LCD groups (p < 0.001). VO2peak improved in all groups (p < 0.001), but more so in the hypoxia groups (p = 0.019). Functional capacity was increased in all groups (p < 0.001), but more so in the EH group in 6MWT (p = 0.030). EH with and without an LCD is a therapeutic strategy for improving bone mass in T2DM, which is associated with cardiorespiratory and functional improvements.