Effects Of Stair Stepping On Late Day Postprandial Glycemia

PURPOSE: The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether the benefits of very short, single bout stair stepping established for early day food consumption extend to late day food consumption. METHODS: 27 participants without glycemic control abnormalities performed two standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), consuming 75 g of glucose dissolved in 350 mL of water followed by assessment of blood glucose response for 2 hours. Participants performed the OGTTs in the evening of two separate days. One day was the control condition, where participants remained seated throughout the entire duration of the OGTT. The other day (in randomized order) participants performed 1 min of stair stepping at a self-selected, comfortable pace 58 min after the consumption of the glucose solution. Blood glucose measurement via standard finger sticks were performed at 0, 30, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 120 min of the OGTT. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was assessed immediately following the stair stepping. Participants were instructed to not vary their diet or exercise during the two testing days. Diet and activity logs were collected to verify compliance. RESULTS: Blood glucose was not different before stair stepping at baseline and 30 min (mean difference control l minus stair condition = -2--7 mg/dL (95% CI 2--15 mg/dL). After stair stepping blood glucose was lower in the stair stepping compared to control condition at the 60 min (27 mg/dL, 95% CI 12-41 mg/dL) and 70 min (24 mg/dL, 95%CI 9-40 mg/dL) time points with narrowing margins as time progressed (27, 24 and 15 mg/dL respectively, 95% CI 9-40, -3-32 mg/dL, respectively). At 80, 90 and 120 min values were again not different between conditions (15-0 mg/dL, 95% CI -11-32 mg/dL). The change in blood glucose from baseline to peak values (delta60min) was statistically significantly lower in the stair-stepping compared to control (29 mg/dL, 12-45 mg/dL, p = .002). All participants reported an RPE of 1 showing an overall low perception of intensity. CONCLUSIONS: A single, very easy 1-minute bout of low-intensity stair-stepping showed a marked reduction in peak postprandial blood glucose in the evening.