Positive effects of football on fitness, lipid profile, and insulin resistance in B razilian patients with type 2 diabetes

We evaluated the effects of recreational football training combined with calorie‐restricted diet (football + diet) vs calorie‐restricted diet alone (diet) on aerobic fitness, lipid profile, and insulin resistance indicators in type 2 diabetes ( T 2 D ) patients. Forty‐four T 2 D patients aged 48–68 years (27 females, 17 males) were randomly allocated to the football + diet group ( FDG ; n  = 22) or to the diet group ( DG ; n  = 22), of whom 19 FDG and 15 DG subjects completed the study. The football training was performed for 3 × 40 min/week for 12 weeks. Dual‐energy X ‐ray absorptiometry scanning, treadmill testing, and fasting blood samplings were performed pre and post‐intervention. After 12 weeks, maximal oxygen uptake ( VO 2max ) was elevated ( P  < 0.05) by 10 ± 4% in FDG but not in DG (−3 ± 4%, P  < 0.05). After 12 weeks, reductions in blood triglycerides (0.4 ± 0.1 mmol/L), total cholesterol (0.6 ± 0.2 mmol/L), low‐density lipoprotein, and very low‐density lipoprotein levels were observed only in FDG . Fat mass decreased ( P  < 0.05) by 3.4 ± 0.4 kg in FDG and 3.7 ± 0.4 kg in DG . The lower ( P  < 0.05) glucagon and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance indicated an improvement in insulin sensitivity in FDG . In conclusion, football combined with restricted diet was effective in enhancing VO 2max , reducing total cholesterol and triglycerides, and increasing insulin sensitivity, potentially providing better tools for the prevention of T 2 D complications than diet alone.