Vigorous vs. moderate exercise to improve glucose metabolism in inactive women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance: a pilot randomized controlled trial of two home-based exercise routines

Abstract

Objective

To study the impact of vigorous vs. moderate exercise on metabolic parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Unsupervised home-based exercise program.

Patient(s)

Patients with PCOS on the basis of the Rotterdam criteria with insulin resistance.

Intervention(s)

Participants were block randomized to a home-based exercise program of 75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, for 8 weeks total.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Changes in glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance.

Result(s)

In total, 36 participants were randomized, of whom 20 completed the study. The percentage changes from baseline at 4 and 8 weeks for fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance did not significantly differ between the groups, except for the change in the 8-week glucose level, which was more favorable in the moderate arm (8.06% [standard deviation, 6.44%] in the vigorous group compared with −0.32% [standard deviation, 4.91%] in the moderate group). The absolute values of the main outcomes (fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance) at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks did not significantly differ between trial arms. When assessing the change from baseline at 4 and 8 weeks, overall and within each trial arm, only the 8-week fasting glucose level was significantly greater than the baseline value in the vigorous arm (93.5 [95% confidence interval, 88.7–98.3] vs. 86.8 [95% confidence interval, 81.1–92.4]).

Conclusion(s)

Unsupervised short-term exercise programs may not achieve significant metabolic improvements in patients with PCOS, regardless of vigorous vs. moderate intensity. Future studies should investigate this question in larger sample sizes and longer or structured exercise programs.

Clinical Trial Registration Number

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02303470.