A recent study published in the Journal ‘Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases’ had reported that moderate stair walking is beneficial to improve glycemic response and insulin sensitivity. The study conducted under the leadership of Jeff Moore at the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego, USA evaluated the effect of moderate intensity stair stepping exercise on the glycemic response, and antioxidant capacity (TAC) during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Thirty participants (women = 12) completed 4 OGTTs during rest or stair walking bouts of 1, 3, and 10 min in a randomized order. Blood was collected at baseline and 30 min during the OGTTs and analyzed for glucose, insulin, TAC, and lactate. Glucose concentrations were decreased following the 10 min (−22.69 (−34.66 to −10.72) mg/dL, p < 0.002) and 3 min (−15.37 (−25.05 to −5.69) mg/dL, p < 0.004) bouts but not the 1 min bout (−6.18 (−19.54 to 7.18) mg/dL, p = 0.352). Insulin concentrations were decreased following the 10 min (−6.11 (−8.86 to −3.36 μIU/dL), p < 0.001) and 3 min (−2.589 (−4.54 to −0.63) μIU/dL, p < 0.012) bouts but not the 1 min bout (−0.37 (−1.87 to 1.13) μIU/dL, p = 0.616). Insulin sensitivity index values showed a significant increase in the 10-min trial (1.81 (0.03–3.58), p < 0.048), but not during the 3 min (0.65 (−0.66 to 1.96) p = 0.317) or 1 min trial (0.13 (−1.58 to 1.84) p = 0.878).

The study concluded that bouts as short as 3 min decrease postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels but longer bouts are needed to affect insulin sensitivity.