A single one-minute, comfortable paced, stair-climbing bout reduces postprandial glucose following a mixed meal

TLDR: Single, subjectively "light" intensity stair climbing and descending bouts as short as 1 min in duration attenuate the postprandial glucose response in normal weight individuals following consumption of a mixed meal.

Abstract: Background and Aims Postprandial blood glucose (PBG) is an independent predictor of disease and mortality risk. To date, the shortest, single, moderate intensity exercise intervention to reduce PBG is a 1-min bout of stair stepping during an oral glucose tolerance test. Whether this effect translates to real meal consumption is unknown. Methods and Results Subjects (N=30) participated in a randomized controlled crossover trial performing 0min (seated control), 1min, 3min or 10min of stair climbing and descending bouts (SCD) at a self-selected pace after consumption of a mixed meal on four separate visits. Compared to control, all SCD reduced PBG at least one timepoint: at 30-minutes the 3min (-10.8(-18.7 to -2.8)mg/dL, p = 0.010) and 10min (-36.3(-46.4 to -26.3)mg/dL), p Conclusions Single, subjectively “light” intensity stair climbing and descending bouts as short as 1 minute in duration attenuate the postprandial glucose response in normal weight individuals following consumption of a mixed meal. More pronounced effects require longer bouts in a dose-dependent manner.