ACUTE BLOOD GLUCOSE RESPONSES TO RESISTANCE VERSUS AEROBIC EXERCISE IN PHYSICALLY ACTIVE STUDENTS

This study investigated the acute effects of aerobic and resistance exercises on blood glucose levels in physically active students, with an additional focus on the transient impact of chewing sugar-free gum. A total of 30 male participants aged 20–26 years from Pondicherry University were divided into three groups: Experimental Group 1 (aerobic exercise via the Cooper 12-minute run/walk test), Experimental Group 2 (resistance training via a muscular fitness test), and a Control Group (no exercise). Blood glucose levels were measured under three conditions: before warm-up (baseline), after 10 minutes of chewing sugar-free gum (pre-test), and 15 minutes post-exercise (post-test). Data were analysed using a one-way ANOVA and Scheffe post-hoc test, with significance at p < 0.05. Results revealed significant reductions in blood glucose levels after chewing gum in all groups (p < 0.05), suggesting a transient glucose-lowering effect. Post-exercise, Group 1 (aerobic) showed a significant decrease in blood glucose (p = 0.005), while Group 2 (resistance) exhibited a transient increase (p = 0.000), likely due to anaerobic metabolic demands. The Control Group demonstrated no significant change between pre-and post-test conditions (p = 0.309), highlighting the role of physical activity in glucose regulation. The findings indicate that aerobic and resistance exercises effectively regulate blood glucose levels, albeit through different mechanisms. Aerobic exercise demonstrated a more consistent glucose-lowering effect, while resistance training showed greater variability. Chewing sugar-free gum emerged as a potential adjunct to exercise for transient glucose management. These results underscore the importance of tailored exercise prescriptions for metabolic health and suggest further exploring non-invasive interventions like chewing gum in glucose regulation strategies. KEYWORDS: Blood glucose, aerobic exercise, resistance training, chewing gum, metabolic health, physical activity