Cold Exposure and Shivering May Enhance Insulin Sensitivity
Recent studies indicate that gradual exposure to cold temperatures that leads to noticeable shivering could enhance metabolic health, potentially aiding in the prevention of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
As temperatures fall, there’s a silver lining to the chilly weather: it prompts shivering, which is beneficial for metabolic health.
Importance of Shivering
The study, conducted at Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands and published in Nature Metabolism, involved 15 adults aged 40 to 75 who were overweight or obese, nine of whom had glucose intolerance. Over a period of 10 days, participants underwent intermittent cold exposure that triggered shivering.
During the study, participants refrained from alcohol and caffeine and came to the research facility after an overnight fast for all appointments. None had Type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease and were generally deemed healthy.
Participants wore a suit that circulated water to induce heating or cooling. The temperatures were dropped to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) to elicit shivering for an hour, leading to noteworthy metabolic improvements.
Cold acclimation in the recent study corresponded with more stable blood sugar levels during an oral glucose tolerance test.
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The study also revealed a 3 percent reduction in fasting plasma glucose and an 11 percent decline in clinically significant two-hour glucose concentrations. Remarkably, the number of participants identified as glucose intolerant fell from nine to five following the cold acclimation phase.
Enhanced Lipid Metabolism from Cold Exposure
In addition to benefits for glucose metabolism, the study pointed out improvements in lipid (fat) metabolism, with significant decreases in serum triglyceride levels—17 percent after a single cold exposure and 32 percent after the complete 10-day cold adaptation. “The observed drop in fasting serum triglyceride levels may have clinical significance,” the researchers remarked, highlighting the importance of shivering for these positive effects.
Furthermore, participants noted significant decreases in blood pressure, with resting systolic and diastolic pressures reduced by 10 mmHg and 7 mmHg, respectively. These reductions were consistent across all participants, suggesting that the cold exposure protocol had a uniform effect.
Possible Lifestyle Approach to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease
While the study provided encouraging outcomes, the authors acknowledged some limitations, such as the absence of a control group and challenges in fully controlling participants’ lifestyles in between cold exposure sessions. “Future studies should explore the ideal frequency, duration, and intensity of cold acclimation that includes shivering,” they concluded.
The results indicate that cold acclimation involving shivering may enhance blood sugar control and cardiometabolic risk indicators in overweight or obese adults, supporting the potential of repeated cold exposure as an effective lifestyle strategy for preventing Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
