Effects of supervised exercise training on lipid profile of children and adolescents: Systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression

Objectives. -The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of supervised exercise on total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein adaptations in children and adolescents. Additionally, we aimed to know the possible moderators of exercise effects. News. - Eligible studies that evaluated the effect of supervised exercise on the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels of children or adolescents (aged between 2 and 17 years) were searched on EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane and Scopus databases up to June 2017. Random effect was used and the effect size was calculated by using the standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence interval. Exercise promotes reduction in total cholesterol (effect size: -0.67; 95% confidence interval: -1.12, -0.22; P=0.003) and low-density lipoprotein (effect size: -1.13; 95% confidence interval: -1.66, -0.59; P< 0.001) compared with no intervention. Increasing follow-up duration reduces the benefits of exercise training on total cholesterol (beta=-0.17; P= 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein (beta=-0.44; P< 0.001) adaptations. Greater decreases in low-density lipoprotein were associated with older age of adolescents (beta=0.25; P=0.02). Conclusion. - Supervised exercise is efficient in reducing total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels of children and adolescents. For total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein outcomes, the longer the follow-up, lower the reductions found. Greater decreases in low-density lipoprotein were associated with older age of adolescents. (C) 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.