Kaoru et al. explain that increasing fatty acid utilization fights insulin resistance, and that exercise is known to increase utilization (109). The question mark, as the authors explain, is how much exercise and at what level is required in order to facilitate fatty acid utilization. Therefore the rationale for designing a study to probe this question was well founded.
The hypothesis of the study was similarly well-structured. As already mentioned, the study was designed to test the hypothesis that fatty acids are available for utilization in the body even following short-term exercise at low levels of intensity (109). This is a positive hypothesis, one that is designed to demonstrate a conclusion the authors are interested in finding. The study could have, in theory, been designed in an opposite fashion on the assumption that low levels of exercise will not increase fatty acid utilization. Nonetheless, the hypothesis was thoughtfully reasoned and conformed to the rationale of the study. The proposed study seemed, at first brush, to be adequate toward the intended goal.
The methods and design of the study, however, unfortunately demonstrated some inadequacies that test the scientific merit of the study. Most glaringly, the population size selected for the study was limited to nine individuals. While their collective characteristics were appropriate for the tests, the limitations in size could produce any number of complications for the results perhaps by unintentionally skewing the data set. No explicit reason was provided for the selection of such a limited population; this evaluation is left to wonder if budgetary constraints or an unmentioned variable had a hand in limiting the study's scope to a sample of only nine individuals. Additionally, little to no information was provided regarding the controls placed on the study or the statistical analysis methods employed. Readers have no basis...
The authors may have benefited from a better format or more clearly worded descriptions, but overall the results were quite comprehensible and thorough. The results of all of the tests that were run, as well as accompanying graphs, were included. All of these results demonstrated the fact that fatty acid utilization does occur, albeit in limited amounts, even during low to moderate intensity exercise regimens (112-113).
In the final analysis, the authors' interpretation of these results was straightforward and without reproach. The results of the study demonstrated the validity of the original hypothesis, further lending weight and credence to the study's rationale. Fatty acid utilization, the key to fighting insulin resistance, can occur in individuals who are subjected only to light to moderate exercise. The authors' analysis of these results and discussion of the health implications were measured and well within the bounds of scientific prudence (113).
Unfortunately, as mentioned, other limitations in this study -- namely a small sample size and poorly documented methodology -- reduce its effectiveness and overall merit. While suggestive, this particular study cannot be considered a significant contribution to the study of insulin resistance and exercise. Instead, Kaoru et al. have laid the groundwork for a potentially more comprehensive examination of the issue to develop a new understanding of how metabolic changes can affect insulin resistance.
Works Cited
Toda, Kaoru, Oshida, Yoshiharu, Tokudome, Mizuho, Manzai, Tomoko, and Sato, Yuzo. "Effects of Moderate Exercise on Metabolic Responses and Respiratory Exchange Ration (RER)." Journal of Medical Science…
