Acute effects of whole body vibration exercise on post-load glucose metabolism in healthy men: a pilot randomized crossover trial

Abstract

Exercise on a whole body vibration (WBV) platform, namely WBV exercise (WBVE), has long-term beneficial effects on glucose metabolism, similarly to conventional moderate-intensity exercise. Conventional moderate-intensity exercise reduces post-load plasma glucose levels at the acute phase. This study aimed to reveal acute effects of WBVE on post-load glucose metabolism. This randomized crossover trial enrolled 18 healthy men. They completed the following three interventions in a random order: (1) a 2-hour 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) without WBVE (OGTT-alone), (2) 20-minute WBVE before an OGTT (WBVE\u2009→\u2009OGTT), and (3) 20-minute WBVE during an OGTT (OGTT\u2009→\u2009WBVE). Post-load glucose metabolism in the WBVE\u2009→\u2009OGTT and OGTT\u2009→\u2009WBVE interventions were compared with that in the OGTT-alone intervention. Plasma glucose levels in the WBVE\u2009→\u2009OGTT and OGTT\u2009→\u2009WBVE interventions were not significantly different from those in the OGTT-alone intervention at any time point except 15\u2009min, wherein the WBVE\u2009→\u2009OGTT intervention had higher glucose levels (111 [interquartile range, 102–122] mg/dL vs 122 [111–134] mg/dL, P\u2009=\u20090.026). Higher plasma glucagon levels were observed at 0\u2009min in the WBVE\u2009→\u2009OGTT intervention and at 60\u2009min in the OGTT\u2009→\u2009WBVE intervention (P\u2009=\u20090.010 and 0.015). Cortisol, Growth hormone, and adrenaline levels were significantly increased after WBVE, whereas noradrenaline levels were not. Serum insulin levels in the WBVE\u2009→\u2009OGTT intervention were significantly higher than those in the OGTT-alone intervention at 0\u2009min (P\u2009=\u20090.008). WBVE did not decrease post-load plasma glucose levels at the acute phase. Acute effects of WBVE on post-load glucose metabolism would not be identical to those of conventional exercise. The unique trial number and the name of the registry: UMIN000036520, www.umin.ac.jp, date of registration, June 12, 2019.