Adrenaline plays a major role in the maintenance of blood glucose level by promoting glycogenolysis during prolonged exercise predominantly via the beta2 adrenergic receptor (beta2AR). Because beta2ARs are mainly present in the muscle and liver, beta2AR gene polymorphism may affect changes in glucose metabolism caused by exercise. We, therefore, investigated the effect of beta2AR gene polymorphism on glucose metabolism in healthy Japanese men. The study group consisted of 124 unrelated healthy Japanese men who were aged 21-69 years (mean +/- S.D.: 45.3+/-11.7). They participated in an exercise program which was defined as low-moderate intensity at 20-60min per day, 2-3 days per week for 3 months. The genotype of Gln27Gln was detected in 109 subjects (87.9%), of Gln27Glu in 15 subjects (12.1%) and of Glu27Glu in none, and that of Arg16Arg, Arg16Gly and Gly16Gly in 32 (25.8%), 79 (63.7%) and 13 subjects (10.5%), respectively. There was no association between these polymorphisms and the metabolic characteristics at baseline. The change in fructosamine level as a result of exercise showed that the carrier of the Glu allele had a better response to exercise than the non-carrier. In conclusion, Gln27Glu polymorphism was associated with the change in fructosamine level resulting from exercise, but not Arg16Gly polymorphism.