Exercise decreases the risk of metabolic syndrome in elderly females

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of exercise based on a multiple purpose, high-intensity philosophy on parameters of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in older females with the MetS.

Methods: Thirty-two women (68.7 +/- 3.4 yr) with the MetS according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) took part in the exercise training (EG), and 33 females (69.5 +/- 4.3 yr) also with MetS served as control group (CG). Beside the diagnostic tools of the MetS (waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-C, blood pressure, and glucose), corresponding anthropometric parameters, total cholesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were determined.

Results: After 12 months of exercise, significant effects were observed for total body fat [EG: -1287 g vs CG: +484 g; P = 0.001; confidence interval (CI) = -2787 to -744 g], trunk fat (-1070 vs -203 g; P = 0.005; CI = -1460 to -274 g), hip circumference (-2.1 vs +1.0 cm; P = 0.001; CI = -4.8 to -1.3 cm), triglycerides: (-24.1 vs -0.3 mg dL(-1); P = 0.021; CI = -43.9 to -3.7 mg dL(-1)), total cholesterol: (-19.8 vs +0.2 mg dL(-1); P = 0.008; CI = -34.6 to -5.5 mg dL(-1)), and HDL-C: (+3.8 vs -0.2 mg dL(-1); P = 0.036; CI = 0.3 to 7.6 mg dL(-1)). Waist circumference slightly decreased in both groups (EG: -0.7% vs CG: -0.6%; P = 0.94). Resting systolic (-7.1 vs -6.4 mm Hg; P = 0.84) and diastolic (-8.0 vs -+9.8 mm Hg; P = 0.39) blood pressure significantly decreased in both groups. Changes of glucose and hsCRP did not significantly vary between groups (glucose: +0.7 vs +1.0 mg dL(-1), P = 0.88; hsCRP: -0.68 vs -0.50 mg L(-1), P = 0.36). The number of criteria of the MetS significantly decreased in the EG (4.13-3.66) and slightly decreased in the CG (4.12-3.97); however, significant time group interactions were not observed (P = 0.15; CI = -0.74 to 0.12).

Conclusion: Our multipurpose exercise program significantly affects most parameters of the MetS in elderly women.