Role of Physical Exercise on Postprandial Blood Glucose Responses to Low-Carbohydrate/High-Fat Diet Intake

Abstract

Postprandial blood glucose responses may be an effective predictor of mortality and cardiovascular diseases. Abnormal postprandial blood glucose response is associated with the development of arteriosclerosis. Therefore, postprandial blood glucose response has become an increasingly important indicator of whether individuals are leading a healthy life. Daily diet and physical exercise play important roles in optimizing postprandial blood glucose response. Consuming a low-carbohydrate/high-fat (LC/HF) diet (<40 % of its calorie as carbohydrate) for short and long periods contributes to an increase in postprandial blood glucose concentrations. In contrast, physical exercise (a single bout of physical exercise and exercise training) increases glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity, subsequently leading to improvements in postprandial blood glucose response. However, a single bout of physical exercise has less effect on abnormal postprandial blood glucose responses induced by short-term intake of a LC/HF diet. Presumably, the effects of a single bout of physical exercise may be impaired by a short-term LC/HF diet. Performing physical exercise before but not after ingesting a LC/HF diet may improve the LC/HF diet-induced attenuation of postprandial blood glucose response. Moreover, physical exercise training should improve the postprandial blood glucose response induced by a LC/HF diet. However, there is little direct evidence regarding the effects of physical training on abnormal postprandial blood glucose response induced by a LC/HF diet, and, thus, future intervention studies are required.