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Title: Effects of aerobic exercise, diet, or both on lipids and lipoproteins in adults: a meta-analysis

Author
item KELLEY, GEORGE A. - West Virginia University
item KELLEY, KRISTI S. - West Virginia University
item ROBERTS, SUSAN B. - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item HASKELL, WILLIAM - Stanford University

Submitted to: American Public Health Association Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/5/2011
Publication Date: 10/29/2011
Citation: Kelley, G., Kelley, K., Roberts, S., Haskell, W. 2011. Effects of aerobic exercise, diet, or both on lipids and lipoproteins in adults: a meta-analysis [abstract]. 139th American Public Health Association Annual Meeting. Paper No. 236502.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: 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 (change score difference between intervention and control groups) and random-effects models used to pool results. Between-group comparisons (Qb) were conducted using ANOVA-like random-effects models. RESULTS: Seven 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. CONCLUSION: Compared to E, ED as well as D were associated with greater reductions in TC and LDL-C among adults.