DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000041493 ISSN: 1536-5964

Effects of exercise on high-density lipoprotein levels in middle-aged and older individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Lunmin Liang, Fenglin Peng, Linyuan Wang, Chen Lin, Hong Chi
Show PDF Cite

Background:

This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of exercise on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in middle-aged and older individuals.

Methods:

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE, including meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of exercise on HDL-C levels in middle-aged and older individuals.

Results:

Forty-two trials were analyzed. We found that exercise had a significant effect on HDL cholesterol levels (standard mean difference [95% confidence interval] = 0.22 [0.09–0.35], Z = 3.28, P = .001, I 2 = 54%), and the heterogeneity across the studies was significant and high. After subgroup analysis, we found that aerobic exercise had the most significant effect on the levels of HDLs in middle-aged and older individuals, which was better than that of other types of exercise.

Conclusions:

Aerobic exercise significantly improves HDL levels in middle-aged and older individuals, but resistance and stretching exercises had no significant effect on HDL levels.

More from our Archive