Effects of Hill Walking on Postprandial Blood Glucose Elevation

Abstract

There are few studies that have verified blood glucose fluctuations in hill walking, which is popular as lifelong sports. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of hill walking on suppressing postprandial blood glucose elevation and compare them to those when walking on flat ground (Study 1) and comparing uphill and downhill walking (Study 2). In Study 1, ten young healthy subjects (male;7, female;3) participated in the hill and flat ground walking, and the resting trial. In study 2, eleven young healthy subjects (male;7, female;4) participated in the uphill and downhill walking. Studies 1 and 2 recruited different subjects. Blood glucose concentrations were measured before and after meal intake at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. The hill walking trial showed a significantly lower peak blood glucose concentrations than any other trial (Study 1). The hill walking trial showed significantly lower mean blood glucose concentrations than the resting trial (Study 1). Only in the uphill walking trial showed significantly lower the peak blood glucose concentrations and mean blood glucose concentrations than the resting trial (Study 2). In conclusion, the hill walking contributes to the suppression of postprandial blood glucose elevation and provide novel information on the influence of hill walking on the acute regulation of blood glucose.