Sixteen weeks of resistance training can decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome in healthy postmenopausal women

Resistance training reduces systolic blood pressure in metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Aim

To evaluate the effects of resistance training on metabolic syndrome risk factors through comparison with a control group.

Design

Meta-analysis comparing resistance training interventions with control groups. Two independent reviewers selected the studies and assessed their quality and data. The pooled mean differences between resistance training and the control group were calculated using a fixed-effects model.

Data sources

The MEDLINE, PEDro, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus and The Cochrane Library databases were searched from their earliest records to 10 January 2015.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Randomised controlled trials that compared the effect of resistance training on metabolic syndrome risk factors with a control group were included. All types of resistance training, irrespective of intensity, frequency or duration, were eligible.

Results

Only systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced, by 4.08 mm Hg (95% CI 1.33 to 6.82; p<0.01), following resistance training. The pooled effect showed a reduction of 0.04 mmol/L (95% CI −0.12, 0.21; p>0.05) for fasting plasma glucose, 0.00 (95% CI −0.05, 0.04; p>0.05) for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, 0.03 (95% CI −0.14, 0.20; p>0.05) for triglycerides, 1.39 mm Hg (95% CI −0.19, 2.98; p=0.08) for diastolic blood pressure and 1.09 cm (95% CI −0.12, 2.30; p=0.08) for waist circumference. Inconsistency (I²) for all meta-analysis was 0%.

Conclusions

Resistance training may help reduce systolic blood pressure levels, stroke mortality and mortality from heart disease in people with metabolic syndrome.

Trial registration number

CRD42015016538.

Effect of resistance training on C-reactive protein, blood glucose and lipid profile in older women with differing levels of RT experience

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a progressive resistance training (RT) program on C-reactive protein (CRP), blood glucose (GLU), and lipid profile in older women with differing levels of RT experience. Sixty-five older women (68.9 ± 6.1 years, 67.1 ± 13.1 kg) were separated according to RT experience: an advanced group composed by 35 participants who previously carried out 24 weeks of RT and a novice group composed by 30 participants without previous experience in RT (n = 30). Both groups performed a RT program comprised of eight exercises targeting all the major muscles. Training was carried out 3 days/week for 8 weeks. Serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), GLU, and CRP concentrations were determined pre- and post- intervention after 12 h fasting. A significant group by time interaction (P < 0.05) for the TC (novice = -1.9% vs. advanced = 1.0%), and CRP (novice = -22.9% vs. advanced = -54.5%) was observed. A main effect of time (P < 0.05) was identified for the GLU (novice = -2.6% vs. advanced = -6.6%), TG (novice = -12.9% vs. advanced = -5.7%), HDL-C (novice = +6.7% vs. advanced = +2.6%), and LDL-C (novice = -34.0% vs. advanced = -25.4%). These results suggest that RT improves the metabolic profile of older women and that training for a longer period of time seems to produce more pronounced reductions mainly on CRP.

Association Between Physical Therapy and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease and Dyslipidemia Among Osteoarthritis Patients: A Nationwide Database Study

OBJECTIVE

To provide empirical evidence on the effect of early physical therapy (PT) within the first year of osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis on reduction in OA-related comorbidities in patients with OA.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

The study was conducted using a nationally representative sample of 1 million National Health Insurance enrollees.

PARTICIPANTS

Newly diagnosed patients with OA (N=13,545). One-to-one propensity score matching was used to match patients who received PT within the first year of OA diagnosis (PT group; n=3403) with an equal number of patients with OA who did not receive PT (non-PT group).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The 4-year cumulative risk of comorbidities including coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal tract ulcer, and renal failure was estimated. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify the dose-response relation between the PT dosage and the risk of OA-related comorbidities.

RESULTS

A total of 3403 patients (25.1%) received PT within the first year of OA diagnosis. The PT group had a significantly lower 4-year cumulative risk of dyslipidemia (P=.05) and a potentially lower 4-year cumulative risk of CAD (P=.09). After adjusting for other potential confounders, the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that patients with OA who received a high PT dosage had a low risk of CAD and dyslipidemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with OA who received PT had a lower risk of OA-related comorbidities such as dyslipidemia or CAD.

Metabolic Syndrome and Menopause: Pathophysiology, Clinical and Diagnostic Significance

Menopause is a risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases, including metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. MetS is a constellation of interdependent factors such as insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The prevalence of MetS in postmenopause is due to loss of the protective role of estrogens and increased circulating androgens resulting in changes to body fat distribution and development of abdominal obesity. Excessive visceral adipose tissue plays an important role due to synthesis and secretion of bioactive substances such as adipocytokines, proinflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, prothrombotic, and vasoconstrictor factors. MetS may also impact risk assessment of breast cancer, osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease, and quality of life during the menopausal transition. Increased MetS has stimulated the exploration of new laboratory tests for early detection and therapies.