Metrics of Diabetes Risk Are Only Minimally Improved by Exercise Training in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Survivors

Insulin resistance is a risk factor for breast cancer recurrence. How exercise training changes fasting and postglucose insulin resistance in breast cancer survivors is unknown.

To evaluate exercise-induced changes in postglucose ingestion insulin concentrations, insulin resistance, and their associations with cancer-relevant biomarkers in breast cancer survivors.

The University of Massachusetts Kinesiology Department.

15 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors not meeting the physical activity guidelines (150 min/week of exercise).

A supervised 12-week aerobic exercise program (60 min/day, 3-4 days/week).

Postglucose ingestion insulin was determined by peak insulin and area under the insulin curve (iAUC) during a 5-sample oral glucose tolerance test. Insulin sensitivity was estimated from the Matsuda composite insulin sensitivity index (C-ISI). Changes in fitness and body composition were determined from submaximal VO2peak and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Participants averaged 156.8 ± 16.6 min/week of supervised exercise. Estimated VO2peak significantly increased (+2.8 ± 1.4 mL/kg/min, P < .05) and body weight significantly decreased (-1.1 ± 0.8 kg, P < .05) following the intervention. There were no differences in fasting insulin, iAUC, C-ISI, or peak insulin following the intervention. Insulin was only significantly lower 120 min following glucose consumption (68.8 ± 34.5 vs 56.2 ± 31.9 uU/mL, P < .05), and there was a significant interaction with past/present aromatase inhibitor (AI) use for peak insulin (-11.99 non-AI vs +13.91 AI uU/mL) and iAUC (-24.03 non-AI vs +32.73 AI uU/mL).

Exercise training had limited overall benefits on insulin concentrations following glucose ingestion in breast cancer survivors but was strongly influenced by AI use.