Physical activity and glucose tolerance in elderly men: the Zutphen Elderly study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Metabolic Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Glucose intolerance is a growing concern in aging populations.
• Physical activity is a modifiable factor influencing metabolic health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between physical activity and glucose tolerance in elderly men.
• To identify specific physical activities that may prevent glucose intolerance.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 424 elderly men (69-89 years) in Zutphen, Netherlands.
• Assessed current and 5-year change in physical activity using a validated questionnaire.
• Evaluated glucose tolerance via oral glucose tolerance test, defining intolerance as impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus.

Main Results:

• Men engaging in ≥30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity daily showed lower glucose intolerance prevalence (OR 0.32).
• Bicycling and gardening were inversely associated with glucose intolerance (P for trend = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively).
• Decreased physical activity over 5 years correlated with higher 2-hour glucose levels.

Conclusions:

• Common physical activities, including bicycling and gardening, may play a role in preventing glucose intolerance in older men.
• Maintaining physical activity levels is crucial for metabolic health in the elderly.
• These findings support lifestyle interventions for diabetes prevention in aging populations.