236502 Effects of Aerobic Exercise, Diet, or Both on Lipids and Lipoproteins in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

George A. Kelley, DA , Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Kristi Kelley, MEd , Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Susan Roberts, PhD , Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Tufts University, Boston, MA
William L. Haskell, PhD , Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
BACKGROUND: Studies addressing the effects of aerobic exercise (E), diet (D), or both (ED) on lipids and lipoproteins have led to conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: Determine the effects of E, D, and ED on lipids and lipoproteins. METHODS: Using the aggregate data meta-analytic approach, studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials in adults ≥ 18 years of age, included an E, D, and ED intervention ≥ 4 weeks, and assessed total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or triglycerides (TG). Effect sizes for each study were calculated and random-effects models were used to pool results. Between-group comparisons (Qb) were conducted using ANOVA-like mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Six studies representing 1,178 men and women (593 intervention, 585 control) were included. Greater reductions were observed in the ED versus E group for TC (Qb = 21.3, p <0.001) and LDL-C (Qb = 13.5, p <0.001). Greater reductions were also observed for the D versus E group for TC (Qb = 13.6, p <0.001) and LDL-C (Qb = 8.0, p = 0.005). Decreases in HDL-C were less in the E versus both the ED (Qb = 4.3, p = 0.04) and D (Qb = 5.7, p = 0.02) groups. However, none of the within-group changes in HDL-C were significant for any of the groups. No other statistically significant between-group differences were observed, including comparisons between ED and D. CONCLUSION: Compared to E, ED and D were associated with greater reductions in TC and LDL-C among adults.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the differences between aerobic exercise, diet, or a combination of the two on changes in lipids and lipoproteins in adults.

Keywords: Exercise, Cholesterol

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am a nationally and internationally recognized expert on using the meta-analytic approach to determine the effects of exercise and diet on health-related disease. To the best of my knowledge, I supervise the only meta-analytic research group in the world devoted to such an endeavor.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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