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Improvement of metabolic syndrome markers through altitude specific hiking vacations

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Abstract

To study the influence of a 3-week hiking vacation at moderate (1700 m) and low altitude (LA) (200 m) on key-markers of the metabolic syndrome, 71 male volunteers (age 36–66 yr old) with the metabolic syndrome [according to the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) — or World Health Organization (WHO) — definition] participated in the study and were randomly assigned into a moderate altitude (MA) group (1700 m, no. 36) and a low altitude (LA) group (200 m, no. 35). The 3-week vacation program included 12 moderate-intensity guided hiking tours [4 times/week, 55–65% heart rate maximum (HRmax)] with a total exercise time of 29 h plus moderate recreational activities. Both study groups had a comparable and balanced nutrition with no specific dietary restrictions. Anthropometric, metabolic and cardiovascular parameters were measured 10–14 days before vacation, several times during the 3-week vacation, 7–10 days and 6–8 weeks after return. All participants tolerated the vacation without any adverse effects. Body weight, body fat, waist-circumference, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), plasma fibrinogen, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased over time in both study groups. In the LA group, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-index were significantly decreased one week after return. Relative cycle ergometry performance was significantly increased after return compared to baseline. In both study groups, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides remained unchanged. The 3-week vacation intervention at moderate and LA had a positive influence on all key-markers of the metabolic syndrome. No clinically relevant differences could be detected between the study groups. A hiking vacation at moderate and LA can be recommended for people with stable, controlled metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Informatics and Technology Tyrol, Institute for Leisure, Travel and Alpine Medicine, University for Health Sciences, Eduard Wallnoefer-Zentrum I, A-6060, Hall in Tirol, Austria

    S. Greie, G. Hoffmann & W. Schobersberger MD

  2. Research Institute for Leisure and Travel Medicine, Institute Humpeler Schobersberger, Bregenz/Innsbruck

    E. Humpeler & W. Schobersberger MD

  3. Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    H. C. Gunga & E. Koralewski

  4. Theoretical Surgery Unit, Medical University Innsbruck, Germany

    A. Klingler

  5. Clinic for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Germany

    M. Mittermayr & D. Fries

  6. Clinic for Internal Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Germany

    M. Lechleitner

  7. Institute for Sports Medicine, Innsbruck

    H. Hoertnagl

  8. Department of Physiology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    G. Strauss-Blasche

Authors
  1. S. Greie
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  2. E. Humpeler
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  3. H. C. Gunga
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  4. E. Koralewski
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  5. A. Klingler
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  6. M. Mittermayr
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  7. D. Fries
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  8. M. Lechleitner
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  9. H. Hoertnagl
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  10. G. Hoffmann
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  11. G. Strauss-Blasche
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  12. W. Schobersberger MD
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Correspondence to W. Schobersberger MD.

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Greie, S., Humpeler, E., Gunga, H.C. et al. Improvement of metabolic syndrome markers through altitude specific hiking vacations. J Endocrinol Invest 29, 497–504 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03344138

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03344138

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