Effects of exercise training on gallbladder function in an obese female population

Purpose: Aerobic exercise may influence gallstone disease pathogenesis thro ugh its effect on gallbladder motility. The purpose of this investigation w as to examine the effects of exercise braining on gallbladder emptying in o bese women. Methods: Twenty-seven obese subjects were randomized into one o f two groups: exercise (E) (five 45-min brisk walking sessions per week at 75.2 +/- 0.5% of maximum heart rate) and controls (C). Gallbladder function via cholescintigraphy, cardiorespiratory fitness, and body composition wer e measured in all subjects before and after a 12-wk intervention period. In each cholescintigraphy trial subjects ingested an 8-oz liquid meal 45 min after injection of Tc-99m disofenin to promote gallbladder emptying. Gallbl adder areas were then scanned for 60 s and then every 5 min fbr 60 min. Res ults: (V) over dot O-2max increased significantly by 9% for E when compared with that for C (P < 0.001). Within E postprandial gallbladder ejection fr action (EF) increased significantly after training (39.5 +/- 4.9% to 54.7 /- 6.5%, P < 0.05); however, this 15.2% increase in EF was not significantl y greater than the change reported in the controls. Conclusions: Results in dicate that 12 wk of moderate exercise training does improve cardiorespirat ory fitness bur does not significantly effect gallbladder emptying in obese women.