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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Jan 10:8:e64539.
doi: 10.2196/64539.

Effect of Physical Exercise on Telomere Length: Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis

Juan Luis Sánchez-González  1 , Juan Luis Sánchez-Rodríguez  2 , Rogelio González-Sarmiento  3 , Víctor Navarro-López  4 , Raúl Juárez-Vela  5 , Jesús Pérez  6   7   8   9 , Javier Martín-Vallejo  10
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Effect of Physical Exercise on Telomere Length: Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis

Juan Luis Sánchez-González et al. JMIR Aging. .

Abstract

Background: Telomere length (TL) is a marker of cellular health and aging. Physical exercise has been associated with longer telomeres and, therefore, healthier aging. However, results supporting such effects vary across studies. Our aim was to synthesize existing evidence on the effect of different modalities and durations of physical exercise on TL.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the needs and expectations of individuals with physical disabilities and their interventionists for the use of a virtual reality physical activity platform in a community organization.

Methods: We performed an umbrella review and meta-analysis. Data sources included PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. We selected systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials evaluating the effect of physical exercise on TL.

Results: Our literature search retrieved 12 eligible systematic reviews, 5 of which included meta-analyses. We identified 22 distinct primary studies to estimate the overall effect size of physical exercise on TL. The overall effect size was 0.28 (95% CI 0.118-0.439), with a heterogeneity test value Q of 43.08 (P=.003) and I² coefficient of 51%. The number of weeks of intervention explained part of this heterogeneity (Q_B=8.25; P=.004), with higher effect sizes found in studies with an intervention of less than 30 weeks. Exercise modality explained additional heterogeneity within this subgroup (Q_B=10.28, P=.02). The effect sizes were small for aerobic exercise and endurance training, and moderate for high-intensity interval training.

Conclusions: Our umbrella review and meta-analysis detected a small-moderate positive effect of physical exercise on TL, which seems to be influenced by the duration and type of physical exercise. High quality studies looking into the impact of standardized, evidence-based physical exercise programs on TL are still warranted.

Keywords: DNA; aging; chromosome; exercise; genes; genome; meta-analysis; telomerase; telomere.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flowchart.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Scatterplot of primary studies including effect size and number of weeks of intervention.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. (A) Forest plot of subgroups of primary studies defined by length of intervention. (B) Forest plot of subgroups of primary studies defined by type of exercise. TE: treatment effect.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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