Biomarkers of endothelial function and insulin resistance response to aerobic exercise versus resistance exercises in obese type 2 diabetic patients

Introduction:The risk of endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance is higher in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which could be modulated with exercise training. However, to our knowledge, there is no clinical studies have addressed which exercise specific type is superior in modulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance for T2DM.This study aimed to determine the differences in response of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance to aerobic versus resistance exercises in type 2 diabetic patients.Material and Methods:Eighty obese type 2 diabetic patients participated in this study and were included into two groups, group (A) received aerobic exercises; where group (B) received resistance exercises for 12 months.Results:The mean values of Inter-Cellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM-1), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule (VCAM-1), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), E-selectin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1c) and Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly decreased in both groups at the end of the study. However, the mean values of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and t-PA antigen were more significantly reduced in group (A), while the mean values of HBA1c and HOMA-IR were more significantly reduced in group (B) and there were significant differences between both groups at the end of the study.Conclusions:Resistance exercise appears to be more beneficial than aerobic exercise for improving insulin resistance in T2DM. Also, aerobic exercise appears to be more beneficial than resistance exercise for improving endothelial function in T2DM.