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. 2017 Oct 23;12(10):e0180840.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180840. eCollection 2017.

Associations of aerobic and strength exercise with clinical laboratory test values

Maren S Fragala  1 , Caixia Bi  1 , Michael Chaump  1 , Harvey W Kaufman  1 , Martin H Kroll  1
Affiliations

Associations of aerobic and strength exercise with clinical laboratory test values

Maren S Fragala et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objectives: Physical exercise may affect levels of blood-based biomarkers. However, exercise status is seldom considered in the interpretation of laboratory results. This study reports the associations between habitual exercise participation and clinical laboratory test results.

Methods: The effects of days per week of aerobic and strength exercise participation on laboratory test results for 26 biomarkers in young adults aged 18 to 34 years (n = 80,111) were evaluated using percentile distribution analyses and multivariate regression.

Results: In both men and women, more days per week of either aerobic or strength exercise were significantly associated with lower levels of glucose, hemoglobin A1c, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, estimated glomerular filtration rate, globulin, and C-reactive protein, and significantly higher levels of HDL cholesterol, creatinine, iron, and percent saturation (all p < .05). Type of exercise or gender influenced the observed relationships with exercise frequency for total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, bilirubin, and iron binding capacity.

Conclusions: Physical exercise shifted the distribution of results into the direction suggestive of better health. Reported relationships may help clinicians and patients to better understand and interpret laboratory results in athletic populations and possibly re-evaluate interpretation of reference intervals for physically active populations.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: MSF, CB, MC, HWK, and MHK are employees of Quest Diagnostics and own stock in Quest Diagnostics. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Cumulative distribution of biomarkers for 0 and 5+ days of aerobic (A) or/and strength (S) exercise participation among men and women aged 18–34 years.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Cumulative distribution of biomarkers for 0 and 5+ days of aerobic (A) or/and strength (S) exercise participation among men and women aged 18–34 years.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Cumulative distribution of biomarkers for 0 and 5+ days of aerobic (A) or/and strength (S) exercise participation among men and women aged 18–34 years.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Cumulative distribution of biomarkers for 0 and 5+ days of aerobic (A) or/and strength (S) exercise participation among men and women aged 18–34 years.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Average biomarker levels for 0 to 5+ days of aerobic or/and strength exercise participation for men.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Average biomarker levels for 0 to 5+ days of aerobic or/and strength exercise participation for men.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Average biomarker levels for 0 to 5+ days of aerobic or/and strength exercise participation for men.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Average biomarker levels for 0 to 5+ days of aerobic or/and strength exercise participation for women.
Fig 9
Fig 9. Average biomarker levels for 0 to 5+ days of aerobic or/and strength exercise participation for women.
Fig 10
Fig 10. Average biomarker levels for 0 to 5+ days of aerobic or/and strength exercise participation for women.
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