Resumen:
Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of a 5-yr exercise intervention on metabolic syndrome (MetS) and health-related variables and medication use for MetS management.
Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to an exercise intervention (n = 25, 54 ± 2 yr, 20% women) or control group (n = 26, 54 ± 2 yr, 38% women). The intervention lasted 4 months per year and consisted of high-intensity interval training on a cycloergometer thrice a week. Outcomes were MetS z-score and medication use score, MetS-related variables (including blood pressure, blood glucose homeostasis, and lipid profile), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF, as determined by maximal oxygen uptake).
Results: MetS z-score was similarly reduced over time in both groups (P = 0.244 for group-time interaction). A quasi-significant and significant group-time interaction was found for MetS number of factors (P = 0.004) and CRF (P < 0.001), respectively. Thus, MetS factors tended to decrease over time only in the exercise group with no change in the control group, whereas CRF increased from baseline to 5-yr assessment in the exercise group (by 1.1 MET, P < 0.001) but decreased in the control group (-0.5 MET, P = 0.025)...