Association of physical activity with insulin resistance, subclinical inflammation, coagulation, and fibrinolytic biomarkers among population at high risk for type 2 diabetes

Tsvetan Stefanov1 / Theodora Temelkova-Kurktschiev2 / Carsta Koehler3 / Elena Henkel4 / Frank Schaper5 / Markolf Hanefeld6
1Medicobiological Unit, International Scientific Institute, National Sports Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
2Medicobiological Unit, International Scientific Institute, National Sports Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
3Prof.Hanefeld Study Centre, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Science and Technology Transfer, Technical University Dresden, Germany
4Prof.Hanefeld Study Centre, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Science and Technology Transfer, Technical University Dresden, Germany
5Prof.Hanefeld Study Centre, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Science and Technology Transfer, Technical University Dresden, Germany
6Prof.Hanefeld Study Centre, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Science and Technology Transfer, Technical University Dresden, Germany
Correspondence and reprint request to: T. Stefanov, Medicobiological Unit, International Scientific Institute,National Sports Academy, Sofia;E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Mob.: (+359) 888 003 607National Sports Academy, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria

Citation Information: Folia Medica. Volume 54, Issue 2, Pages 32–39, ISSN (Online) 1314-2143, ISSN (Print) 0204-8043, DOI: 10.2478/v10153-011-0086-6, October 2012
Publication History:
Published Online:
2012-10-27

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of physical activity with insulin resistance and biomarkers of inflammation, coagulation, and fibrinolysis in a population at high risk for type 2 diabetes.

Patients and Methods: A total of 778 subjects from the Risk factors in Impaired Glucose Tolerance for Atherosclerosis and Diabetes (RIAD) study aged 40-70 years were included in the present cross-sectional analysis.

Results: Participants classified as having low physical activity (PA) were more insulin resistant in comparison to participants with medium (P = 0.042) and high PA (P = 0.015). Individuals with high physical activity had a significantly lower leucocytes count than individuals with low PA (P = 0.027) and significantly lower hs-CRP and fibrinogen concentrations than individuals with medium (P = 0.011 and P = 0.021) and low physical activity (P = 0.04 and P = 0.007). Although a trend towards a decrease in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) levels with increasing physical activity was present, significant differences were observed only between subjects with high and medium physical activity (P = 0.045 and P = 0.033). In multivariate regression analyses physical activity was an independent determinant of insulin resistance, leucocytes count, hs-CRP, and fibrinogen concentrations.

Conclusions: Physical activity was independently associated with insulin resistance and biomarkers of inflammation, whereas only a tendency towards decreased concentrations of coagulation and fibrinolytic biomarkers with increasing physical activity was observed.