A Single One-Minute, Comfortable Paced, Stair-Climbing Bout Reduces Postprandial Glucose Following 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.