Table 2.
Meta-analyses on the effects of running on biomedical indices of health
| Outcome measure | Subgroup analysis by length of training | Subgroup analysis by sex | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 weeks WMD (95 % CI) |
26 weeks WMD (95 % CI) |
52 or 69 weeks WMD (95 % CI) |
Males WMD (95 % CI) |
Females WMD (95 % CI) |
|
| Body composition | |||||
| Body mass (kg) | −0.9 (−2.6 to 0.8) | −0.9 (−3.6 to 1.9) | −3.3 (−4.1 to −2.5)* | −3.1 (−3.8 to −2.3)* | −0.6 (−2.5 to 1.4) |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % |
| Lean body mass (kg) | −0.6 (−2.0 to 0.8) | −0.1 (−0.6 to 0.3) | −0.1 (−2.2 to 2.1) | −0.2 (−1.2 to 0.9) | −0.3 (−1.5 to 0.8) |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 85 % | I 2 = 71 % | I 2 = 0 % |
| Body fat (%) | −1.3 (−2.0 to −0.6)* | −1.9 (−2.8 to −1.0)* | −2.7 (−5.1 to −0.2)* | −1.8 (−2.3 to −1.3)* | 0.4 (−1.7 to 2.6) |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 24 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % |
| BMI (kg m−2) | −0.6 (−2.2 to 1.0) | −0.2 (−0.6 to 0.2) | −0.2 (−1.4 to 1.0) | −0.3 (−0.7 to 0.2) | 0.0 (−1.1 to 1.1) |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % |
| Cardiorespiratory | |||||
| Resting heart rate (min−1) | −3.4 (−5.6 to −1.2)* | −3.5 (−6.7 to −0.3)* | −6.7 (−10.3 to −3.0)* | −4.6 (−6.5 to −2.7)* | −2.6 (−5.7 to 0.5) |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % |
| VO2max (ml min−1 kg−1) | 3.8 (3.1 to 4.6)* | 4.1 (3.0 to 5.1)* | 7.1 (5.0 to 9.1)* | 4.6 (3.9 to 5.3)* | 3.0 (1.7 to 4.3)* |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 27 % | I 2 = 4 % | I 2 = 0 % |
| Blood serum concentration | |||||
| Triglycerides (mg dl−1) | −12.9 (−24.6 to −1.2)* | −6.0 (−26.1 to 14.1) | −16.9 (−28.1 to −5.6)* | −13.8 (−21.8 to −5.8)* | −15.2 (−38.6 to 8.2) |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % |
| Total cholesterol (mg dl−1) | −5.3 (−10.0 to −0.5)* | 11.7 (1.4 to 22.0)* | −2.2 (−7.8 to 3.3) | −2.5 (−6.0 to 1.1) | 0.4 (−14.2 to 15.0) |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 8 % |
| HDL cholesterol (mg dl−1) | −0.2 (−3.7 to 3.4) | 2.0 (−1.0 to 4.9) | 3.3 (1.2 to 5.4)* | 2.6 (1.0 to 4.2)* | 2.8 (−3.0 to 8.6) |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 2 % | I 2 = 41 % | I 2 = 30 % | I 2 = 9 % |
| LDL cholesterol (mg dl−1) | −0.7 (−11.7 to 10.4) | 9.8 (−2.3 to 21.9) | −2.6 (−7.6 to 2.4) | −0.4 (−4.9 to 4.2) | 0.3 (−13.6 to 14.2) |
| Heterogeneity | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % | I 2 = 0 % |
All estimates came from the random-effects meta-analysis comparing the intervention groups (endurance running) with the control groups (physically inactive)
BMI body mass index, CI confidence interval, HDL high-density lipoprotein, LDL low-density lipoprotein, VO 2max maximal oxygen uptake, WMD weighted mean difference
* Statistically significant estimate (95% CI around the WMD not including zero)