Exercise Resistance Training

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D and resistance training in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and vitamin D deficiency.

Design: This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial.: IRCT20190204042621N1.

Participants: Forty-eight patients with type 2 diabetes aged 40-65 (from a total of 52 volunteers in Ardabil diabetes clinic) were randomly assigned to either the vitamin D supplementation with resistance training group (VD + RT: = 12), the resistance training group (RT: = 12), the vitamin D supplementation group (VD: = 12), or the control group (CON: = 12).

Intervention: The subjects in VD group took vitamin D supplements at 50000 IU per 2 weeks for 3 months; the subjects in RT group exercised 3 times per week for 12 weeks; and the subjects in VD + RT group participated in both treatments. Subjects in CON group were asked to maintain normal daily life pattern for the duration of the study.

Measurements: Serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined at pre and post-test and the data were compared among the four groups and between two tests (4 × 2) using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures.

Results: IL-6 decreased significantly ( = 0.001) in all groups (VD + RT = % -71.73, RT = % -65.85, VD = % -61.70). TNF-α decreased significantly ( = 0.001) in VD + RT (% -44.90) and RT (% -40) groups. CRP showed no significant change in any group ( > 0.05).

Conclusion: Results demonstrated that vitamin D supplementation in addition to resistance training had positive effects on some inflammatory markers in T2D and vitamin D deficient men. Vitamin D supplementation was especially effective when it was complemented with exercise training.