Aims: This study aimed to examine the effect of prolonged neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the metabolic profile and cognition-related blood parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods: Fourteen patients with T2DM (63.2 ± 3.0 years, 76.1 ± 3.5 kg) participated in a randomized controlled cross-over study, in which 8-week-long NMES interventions were performed on both legs. The NMES training protocol consisted of 40-min sessions, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks. The relative changes in glucose and lipid profiles, and cognition-related blood parameters were evaluated.
Results: NMES training induced significant changes in the fasting glucose concentration (p < 0.05) and percent body fat (p < 0.05), although there were no significant changes in HbA1c and blood lipid levels (p ≥ 0.05). The change in plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels was significantly higher in the NMES period than in the control period (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: This study showed that an 8-week NMES training program could induce greater changes in the blood glucose concentration, percent body fat, and plasma BDNF levels than the control intervention in patients with T2DM. NMES training might prove to be an alternative exercise method for patients who might have difficulties in performing adequate voluntary exercise.
Keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Electrical muscle stimulation; Exercise; Metabolism.
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