EFFECTS OF 8-WEEK MODERATE-INTENSITY EXERCISE ON LIPID PROFILES IN PREDIABETIC ADULTS: A GENDER-COMPARISON STUDY

Abstract

Objectives:To determine the effect of moderate-intensity exercise in prediabetic individuals on lipid profile and to explore gender differences.

Methods: This was a pre- and post-design experimental study carried out in the Physiology Department, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan, fifty prediabetic participants in the 18-to 35-year-old age group were recruited and underwent a moderate exercise for 8 weeks. Exercise was monitored with pedometers

Results: Highly significant changes in lipid profile were observed in the female population at post-intervention. Cholesterol levels decreased from 170 ± 38 to 142 ± 27 mg/dL (P < 0.001), Triglyceride (TG) levels from 182 ± 44 to 154 ± 42 mg/dL (P = 0.001) low density lipoprotein (LDL) from 113 ± 13 to 100 ± 13 mg/dL (P < 0.001). High density lipoprotein (HDL) showed a statistically significant difference from 59 ± 8.5 to 62 ± 10.2 mg/dL (P < 0.001) in female gender. Also, there were highly significant changes in lipid profile in the male population post-intervention. Cholesterol levels decreased from 196 ± 34 to 151 ± 29 mg/dL (P < 0.001), TG levels from 205 ± 52 to 165.4 ± 30 mg/dL (P < 0.001), LDL from 118 ± 11 to 105 ± 10 mg/dL (P < 0.001), and in contrast HDL showed a statistically significant increase from 56 ± 8 to 62.5 ± 6 mg/dL (P < 0.001) in male population.

Conclusions: Exercise significantly helped reduce all lipid profile parameters for both groups with similar effect sizes.