Eight-week belt-type electrical stimulation training improves postprandial insulin response and arterial stiffness: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Postprandial hyperglycemia and arterial stiffness are increasingly recognized as significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease. While exercise is effective in mitigating these conditions, individuals with physical limitations may be unable to engage in regular physical activity. Belt-type electrical stimulation (ES) has emerged as a promising alternative for such populations, though its long-term efficacy remains underexplored. The present study investigated the effects of an 8-week ES training intervention (30 min per session, twice weekly, targeting major lower-limb muscle groups) on postprandial glucose and insulin responses, as well as arterial stiffness, in healthy young males. Eighteen participants were randomly assigned to either a ES training (Tr) group (n=9) or a control (Cont) group (n=9). Pre- and post-intervention assessments included an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and measurements of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). The Tr group showed no significant changes in blood glucose levels but exhibited significantly reduced insulin concentrations at 60 minutes and decreased incremental area under the curve for insulin. Additionally, baPWV significantly decreased in the Tr group. In contrast, the Cont group exhibited no significant changes in blood glucose, insulin kinetics, or baPWV over the 8-week period. In conclusion, 8-week ES training may induce chronic metabolic and vascular adaptations, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic "exercise mimetic" for cardiovascular prevention in populations unable to perform voluntary exercise.