Resistance Training Improved the Kidney Function of Type 2 Diabetic Patients with the Risk of Nephropathy: A Randomized Control Trial

Despite the preventive role of resistance training (RT) in the progress of type 2 diabetes, its effects on diabetes-related kidney complications are still unknown.

This study was done to investigate the impacts of RT on kidney function of type 2 diabetic patients with the risk of nephropathy.

Twenty-two middle-aged men with type 2 diabetes (age: 52.8 ± 7.3, body mass index (BMI): 27.4 ± 3.1) were randomly allocated into the control group (CG: n = 12) or resistance training group (RTG: n = 10). Subjects performed a circuit RT program [three times a week, 60 min/session, six exercises, three sets, 8 - 15 repetitions, 50 - 80% one-repetition maximum (1RM)] for eight consecutive weeks. Clinical parameters, including insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance, were measured before and after eight weeks.

IGFBP-3 levels significantly increased (47.8%) in CG, while they remained unchanged in the RTG. eGFR levels significantly decreased (16.7%) in the CG but remained unchanged in the RTG. Fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) levels significantly decreased (16.7% and 27.2%, respectively) in the RTG compared to the CG; however, for fasting insulin, no significant change was observed (8.5%).

The results indicated that although RT did not improve the kidney function of the RTG, by improving the glycemic control, it prevented the development of renal dysfunction into diabetic nephropathy, while the renal dysfunction of the CG deteriorated over the training period, probably due to the lack of training intervention. Further studies with a longer training period are required to clarify the effects of RT on the development of diabetic nephropathy