Effects of Multicomponent Training on Body Composition and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
May-Britt Skoradal, Jacobina Kristiansen, Susana Póvoas et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial assessed 14 weeks of small-sided soccer training in adults aged 40–70 years with type 2 diabetes. Participants were assigned to exercise (66; three 60-minute sessions weekly) or usual care (45). Training did not produce a detectable between-group difference in lean body mass, fat mass, body fat percentage, or HbA1c. It did improve cardiorespiratory fitness: relative VO₂peak increased by 2.80 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ more than with usual care (95% CI 1.69 to 3.92). Exploratory analyses also suggested improvements in selected insulin-resistance measures, which the authors say require confirmation.
Key findings
- Relative VO₂peak improved by 2.80 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ more with exercise than usual care (95% CI 1.69 to 3.92).
- Absolute VO₂peak increased by 237 mL/min more with exercise (95% CI 143 to 331).
- No between-group difference was detected in lean body mass (0.04 kg, 95% CI -0.97 to 1.05), fat mass, body fat percentage, or HbA1c.
- Exploratory analyses found lower C-peptide (-10.3%, 95% CI -19.0 to -0.6) and HOMA2-IR (-10.8%, 95% CI -20.1 to -0.6), and higher HOMA2-%S (+12.2%, 95% CI 0.6 to 25.1), with exercise.
Why it matters
The trial indicates that a structured, soccer-based multicomponent programme can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with type 2 diabetes, even though it did not demonstrate changes in body composition or HbA1c. Fitness outcomes may therefore respond differently from these measures over the study period. The exploratory metabolic signals are potentially relevant but should not be treated as established benefits.
What to keep in mind
The intervention lasted 14 weeks, and the metabolic analyses were exploratory; the abstract states that these findings require confirmation.