Negative energy balance with exercise in identical twins: plasma glucose and insulin responses. Oppert, Jean-Michel, Andr[acute]e Nadeau, Angelo Tremblay, Jean-Pierre Despr[acute]es, Germain Th[acute]eriault, and Claude Bouchard. NUTRITION DEPARTMENT, H[circumflex]oTEL-DIEU HOSPITAL, PARIS 75004, FRANCE, DIABETES RESEARCH UNIT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SCIENCES LABORATORY AND LIPID RESEARCH CLINIC, LAVAL UNIVERSITY, STE FOY, QU[acute]eBEC G1K 7P4, CANADA
APStracts 3:0222E, 1996.
The effects of long-term (93 days) negative energy balance by means of exercise with constant energy intake on plasma glucose and insulin were investigated in 7 pairs of young sedentary male identical twins. Results showed a significant decrease in fasting (-24%, p < 0.02) and postprandial insulin (-16%, p < 0.05). Fasting and postprandial plasma glucose and glucagon were not modified. Mean glucose disposal rate measured during a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp performed in 5 twin pairs was increased by 34% (p = 0.13). No significant intrapair similarity was found for the responses of fasting and postprandial insulin levels, and of glucose disposal rate. Changes in glucose disposal rate were significantly greater in high compared to low losers for CT-measured abdominal visceral fat (3.0 +/- 1.1 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.5 mg/kg/min, p < 0.05), in spite of similar losses in total body fat. We conclude that: 1) a long-term negative energy balance generated by exercise training significantly reduces plasma insulin levels while insulin sensitivity tends to be improved; 2) training-induced changes in insulin sensitivity are associated with changes in abdominal visceral fat; and 3) data from this experiment conducted with a small number of twin pairs suggest that the genotype does not seem to be a major determinant of the changes in insulin levels and sensitivity brought about by negative energy balance with exercise.

Received 13 May 1996; accepted in final form 27 October 1996.
APS Manuscript Number E238-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 13 November 1996