title: Short-term effects of moderate intensity physical activity in patients with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether a short-term moderate intensity exercise program could change inflammatory parameters, and improve different components of metabolic syndrome in sedentary patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients completed the 12-week program of supervised exercise, which consisted of a 40 to 50 minutes of walking, 3 times a week, reaching 50 to 60% of the heart rate reserve. The parameters evaluated before and after intervention were waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein and interleukin 8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in waist circumference (102.1±7.5cm to 100.8±7.4cm; p=0.03) and in body mass index (29.7±3.2kg/m² versus 29.3±3.5kg/m²; p=0.03). Systolic blood pressure dropped from 141±18 to 129±13mmHg and diastolic from 79±12 to 71±10mmHg (with p<0.05 for both). No changes were observed on total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, although HDL cholesterol levels improved, from 45.5±6.0 to 49.5±9.8mg/dL (p=0.02). There was a trend toward reduction of C-reactive protein (8.3%; p=0.07) and interleukin 8 levels (17.4%; p=0.058). The improvement in cardiovascular capacity was demonstrated by an increase of 13% in estimated volume of oxygen (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benefits of aerobic exercise of moderate intensity were seen within only 12 weeks of training in sedentary patients with metabolic syndrome. Considering the easy self-applicability and proven metabolic effects, an exercise program could be a first approach to sedentary patients with metabolic syndrome.
authors.forename: Caroline Macoris
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Rafael Michel
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Macedo
authors.forename: Miguel Morita
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fernandes-Silva
authors.forename: Alexandra Moro
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Caporal
authors.forename: Andréa Emilia
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Stinghen
authors.forename: Costantino Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: Cristina Pellegrino
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Baena
authors.forename: Luiz Cesar
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Guarita-Souza
authors.forename: José Rocha
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Faria-Neto
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol