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Title: Comparison of aerobic exercise, diet or both on lipids and lipoproteins in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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: Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2011
Publication Date: 4/1/2012
Citation: Kelley, G., Kelley, K., Roberts, S., Haskell, W. 2012. Comparison of aerobic exercise, diet or both on lipids and lipoproteins in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Nutrition. 31(2):156-167.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Given that previous studies have reached conflicting conclusions regarding the effects of diet (D), aerobic exercise (E) or both (DE) on blood lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in adults, the meta-analytic approach was used to address this issue. Data Sources: Nine electronic databases, cross-referencing, and expert review. Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials greater than or equal to 4 weeks that included a D, E, DE and control (C) group in adults greater than or equal to 18 years of age and in which data for one or more of the following were available: total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG). There was dual data extraction by the first two authors. For the statistical analysis, there were Random-effects models as well as mixed effects models for between-group differences. Seven-hundred and eighty-eight men and women from 6 studies were included. Non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals were observed for D and DE with respect to lowering TC, LDL-C and TG while reductions in E were limited to TG. No significant changes in HDL-C were observed. When compared to E, reductions in TC and LDL-C were greater for D and DE (p <0.05 for all). Research concluded that diet, especially DE, are superior to E for improving selected lipids and lipoproteins in adults.