Effect of a Pre-Designed Exercise Program and Metformin on Sub-clinical Atherosclerosis Among Individuals with Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Abstract

Pre-diabetes is associated with a high risk of atherosclerosis which can be detected by measuring sub clinical atherosclerosis. We studied the effect of pre-designed exercise program or metformin on the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis among individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). One hundred and twenty people with IGT, determined by 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were recruited. They were allocated to four groups; pre-designed exercise (IGT-E), metformin 500mg once daily group(IGT-M), combined intervention group (IGT-EM), control group without any intervention (IGT-C), by block randomization method. Interventions were continued for six months, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) was measured at the baseline, at the end of six months of intervention and at18 months after an intervention-free period of one year. Mean(SD) age of IGT-C (n=30), IGT-E (n=30), IGT-M (n=30) and IGT-EM (n=30) at baseline were 43.9(8.7), 41.0(8.7), 50.6(8.2) and 48.8(8.4)years.