Using isotemporal substitution to predict the effects of changing physical behaviour on older adults’ cardio-metabolic profiles

BACKGROUND: It has been advocated that older adults should concomitantly spend less time in sedentary behaviour (SB), and engage in sufficient physical activity (PA), to reduce their risk of cardio-metabolic diseases. However, it is not clear what intensity of PA must be done to offset SB engagement. AIM: Model how cardio-metabolic profiles could change if older adults replaced an hour per day (hr·day(-1)) of a physical behaviour intensity with 1 hr·day(-1) of another physical behaviour of a different intensity. METHODS: Older adults (n = 93, 60–89 years old, 55% female) wore a thigh-mounted triaxial accelerometer for seven consecutive free-living days to estimate mean daily hourly engagement in SB, Standing, Light Intensity PA (LIPA), sporadic moderate to vigorous physical activity (sMVPA, bouts <10 continuous minutes), and 10-minute MVPA ((10)MVPA, bouts ≥10 continuous minutes. Fasting whole blood concentration of plasma glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and glycated haemoglobin (%), along with serum concentration of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and procollagen III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) were measured. RESULTS: Isotemporal Substitution, with covariate adjustment, suggested that: total cholesterol concentration could theoretically decrease when 1 hr·day(-1) of SB is replaced with Standing, when 1 hr.day(-1) of LIPA is replaced with Standing, and when 1 hr·day(-1) of sMVPA is replaced with Standing. Triglyceride concentration theoretically decreased when 1 hr·day(-1) of SB, Standing, LIPA, or sMVPA is replaced with (10)MVPA. Triglyceride concentration theoretically increases when 1 hr·day(-1) of (10)MVPA is replaced with SB, Standing, or LIPA. No associations with time reallocation appears to exist for LPL, HbA1c, IL-6, and PIIINP. CONCLUSION: The type of physical behaviour being replaced could be crucial for total cholesterol maintenance. Engagement in (10)MVPA could be necessary to improve triglyceride concentration.