2016 Jul; 13(7): e1002076.
Published online 2016 Jul 12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002076
Martin G. Rasmussen, Anders Grøntved, Kim Blond, Kim Overvad, Anne Tjønneland, Majken K. Jensen, and Lars Østergaard
Nicholas J Wareham, Academic Editor
Abstract
Background
Cycling is a recreational activity and mode of commuting with substantial potential to improve public health in many countries around the world. The aim of this study was to examine prospective associations between recreational and commuter cycling, changes in cycling habits, and risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Danish adults from the Diet, Cancer and Health cohort study.
Methods and Findings
At baseline from 1993 to 1997, 24,623 men and 27,890 women from Denmark, 50–65 y of age and free of T2D and other chronic diseases, underwent a number of assessments, including completing a lifestyle questionnaire also addressing cycling habits. Approximately 5 y later, at a second examination, participants completed a new, updated lifestyle questionnaire. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of incident T2D registered in the Danish National Diabetes Registry, according to recreational and commuter cycling and changes in cycling habits, with adjustment for a priori known T2D risk factors. During 743,245.4 person-years of follow-up (mean follow-up 14.2 y), 6,779 incident cases of T2D were documented. Multivariable adjusted HRs (95% confidence interval [CI]) were 1, 0.87 (0.82, 0.93), 0.83 (0.77, 0.89), 0.80 (0.74, 0.86) and 0.80 (0.74, 0.87) (p for trend = <0.001) for 0, 1–60, 61–150, 151–300, and >300 min/wk of total cycling (recreational and commuter cycling), respectively. In analysis of seasonal cycling, multivariable adjusted HRs (95% CI) were 1, 0.88 (0.83, 0.94), and 0.80 (0.76, 0.85) for non-cyclists, seasonal cyclists (those cycling only in summer or winter), and those cycling during both summer and winter, respectively. How changes in total cycling from baseline to the second examination affected risk was also investigated, and multivariable adjusted HRs (95% CI) were 1, 0.88 (0.78, 1.01), 0.80 (0.69, 0.91), and 0.71 (0.65, 0.77) for non-cyclists and for those who ceased, initiated, or continued cycling between baseline and the second examination, respectively. Lastly, in the analysis of commuter cycling, multivariable HRs (95% CI) were 1, 0.72 (0.60, 0.87), 0.83 (0.69, 1.00), and 0.70 (0.57, 0.85) (p for trend = <0.001) for cycling 0, 1–60, 61–150, and >150 min/wk to work, respectively. The main limitation of the current study is the use of self-reported physical activity.
Conclusions
Commuter and recreational cycling was consistently associated with lower risk of T2D in Danish adults. Our results also provide evidence that late-in-life initiation of or continued engagement in cycling lowers risk of T2D.
Martin Rasmussen and colleagues show a reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes for cyclists, even for those who start later in life.
Author Summary
Why Was this Study Done?
– Habitual cycling in the general population may have the potential to promote public health by reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D).
– A number of previous studies have investigated the relationship between active transport, combining cycling and walking, and T2D; however, previous research investigating the relationship between cycling for recreation or transport and risk of T2D is sparse.
– Our study was done to investigate whether cycling specifically is valuable in the prevention of T2D among a Danish population with widespread engagement in regular cycling.
What Did the Researchers Do and Find?
– Based on information from a large population-based study, we investigated if the risk of T2D was related to habitual cycling when personal- and lifestyle-related risk factors were taken into account.
– We found that habitual cycling was related to a lower risk of T2D than no cycling, and that a longer duration of weekly cycling seemed to be preferable to less weekly cycling.
– We also found that those who took up habitual cycling in middle to old age had a 20% lower risk of T2D compared to those who remained non-cyclists.
What Do These Findings Mean?
– It seems beneficial to encourage adults of middle and old age to engage in commuter and recreational cycling to prevent the development of T2D in late adulthood.
– When combining our findings with previous studies that have shown it is possible to increase cycling through promotional activities and infrastructural changes, it may be suggested that national and local governments prioritize resources to promote cycling.
“The current findings have substantial clinical relevance. Those who find difficulty in walking or jogging, e.g., obese subjects who are at increased risk of musculoskeletal complications, may experience health benefits from cycling, a non-weight bearing activity, despite their limitations.”
Source – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4942105/
