Short, frequent, light-intensity walking activity improves postprandial vascular-inflammatory biomarkers in people with type 1 diabetes: The SIT-LESS randomized controlled trial

Aim To examine the effect of interrupting prolonged sitting with short, frequent, light-intensity activity on postprandial cardiovascular markers in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Materials and Methods In a randomized crossover trial, 32 adults with T1D (mean ± SD age 28 ± 5 years, glycated haemoglobin 67.9 ± 12.6 mmol/mol, 17 women) completed two 7-h laboratory visits separated by >7 days. Participants either remained seated for 7 h (SIT) or interrupted sitting with 3-min bouts of self-paced walking at 30-min intervals commencing 1 h after each meal (SIT-LESS). Physical activity, insulin regimen, experimental start times, and meal consumption were standardized during each arm. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 and fibrinogen were sampled at baseline, 3.5 and 7 h, and assessed for within- and between-group effects using a repeated measures ANOVA. The estimated glucose disposal rate was used to determine the insulin resistance status.

Results Vascular-inflammatory parameters were comparable between SIT and SIT-LESS at baseline (p > .05). TNF-α, IL-1β, PAI-1 and fibrinogen increased over time under SIT, whereas these rises were attenuated under SIT-LESS (p < .001). Specifically, over the 7 h under SIT, postprandial increases were detected in TNF-α, IL-1β, PAI-1 and fibrinogen (+67%, +49%, +49% and +62%, respectively; p < .001 for all). Conversely, the SIT-LESS group showed no change in IL-1β (−9%; p > .50), whereas reductions were observed in TNF-α, PAI-1 and fibrinogen (−22%, −42% and −44%, respectively; p < .001 for all). The intervention showed enhanced effects in insulin-resistant individuals with T1D.

Conclusions Interrupting prolonged sitting with light-intensity activity ameliorates postprandial increases in vascular-inflammatory markers in T1D.

Trial Registration The trial was prospectively registered (ISRCTN13641847).