Table 1.

Characteristics of studies with humans included in the systematic review (n = 12).

Reference	Gender (n)	Training protocol (Training/Detraining periods)	Study design Groups	Exercise/DT-related main outcomes	Conclusion
Mujika and Padilla21	Swimmers ♀ (17)	High-volume Swimming ~18.8 h/week (13mo–8w)	Total of 15 weeks high-level swimmers (6) reference group (11)	No difference in energy intake and expenditure during the study ↑ Body mass after DT to higher values than pre ↓ Free fat mass: fat mass ratio after DT to higher values than pre	Long-term DT period in these swimmers was associated with a substantial fat gain This increase in body fat mass appears to have been the means to restore lipid balance
Farias et al.26	Overweight/Obese ♀(64) ♂(89)	Endurance exercises 1) 1200kcal/wk at 40–55%V̇O2peak 2) 1200kcal/wk at 65–80%V̇O2peak 3) 2000kcal/wk at 65–80%V̇O2peak (8mo–2w)	Total of 8.5 months 1) low volume/moderate intensity 2) low volume/vigorous intensity 3) high volume/vigorous intensity	Insulin sensitivity increase 16–24 h after exercise cessation Only for groups 1 and 3 insulin sensitivity remained elevated after 15d	Training-induced improvement in insulin action after 15 days of detraining is dependent on the intensity and weekly amount of exercise in middle-aged, overweight to obese individuals.
Mujika and Padilla22	Type II Diabetes ♀(9) ♂(21)	Running 30 min @65%V̇O2peak Resistance training 1x2x3 Resistance protocol @65%1RM (6w–6w)	Total of 12 weeks Endurance Resistance	Aerobic training did not induce changes after training on HbA1C and triglycerides as resistance training on weight and BMI Aerobic training showed larger effects on HbA1C after the detraining period	Aerobic and resistance training can improve lipid profile, fasting glycemia HbA1 C in persons with DMII. Resistance training was more effective at maintaining the effects on HDL-C, LDL-C, and HbA1C after detraining
Rimbert et al.30	Young adults ♀(8) ♂(6)	Running training 40 min @ ‘somewhat hard’ to ‘hard’ on the Borg’s perceived exertion scale At least 2 days/week (13w / 9d)	Total of 14 weeks and 2 days Sedentary control Trained Subjects	LPL plasma activity was higher in the trained group after 60 h; Total lipemic responses were higher in the trained group after 60 h and 9 days.	§ Increased LPL activity and blood lipaemia could indicate increased fat uptake by muscle and fat tissues.
Mujika and Padilla20	Elite Taekwondo athletes ♂(16)	Intensive regular TKD-specific training (1w/8w)	Total of 9 weeks	Detraining impaired: Aerobic power Waist-to-hip ratio Body fat Muscle mass Blood glucose Insulin resistance index	Insulin resistance development was positively associated with inflammatory markers, fat mass, central fat accumulation, and the decline in aerobic power
Slade et al.23	College-aged men ♂(30)	Resistance 3 days/week 10 exercises circuit to 1–2 sets 15–4 reps @75–90%1RM Endurance Treadmill running 30 minutes/day 3 days/week @70–85%HRreserve (24w / 24w)	Total of 48 weeks Control Endurance Resistance	No changes in body fat (%), total fat, arm, and leg fat during training. Both training groups improved resistance and aerobic endurance	Resistance training improved lean mass and strength, which was maintained during detraining. Endurance training did not induce long-lasting changes.
Liao et al.27	♂ Obese(33) Lean(11)	Aerobic Intervals Running treadmill 3 days/week 4sets of 4 min @80–90%HRmax by 3 min @50–65%HRmax Resistance training 3 days/week 1–4 sets 20–4 reps 40–95%1RM (12w/4w)	Total of 16 weeks Aerobic Interval Training Non-linear resistance training Control	↑Adiponectin levels after aerobic Intervals ↑IL-6 levels after DT for both training groups ↓ Adiponectin levels after DT in both trained ↓Fasting Insulin during training and returns during DT	Insulin levels return to baseline after 4 weeks of DT. Aerobics induced an increase in Adiponectin; however, this variable worsened in both training groups after DT. Twelve weeks of training did not cause significant changes in serum levels of IL-6, TNF-a, and CRP, but IL-6 worsened after 4 weeks of DT for both training groups
Williams and Thompson24	Swimmers (4) ♀(4)	Swimming training > 10 h/week (5mo/5w)	Two measures: 1. Habitual swimming training 2. DT	↑ 1.3% in body weight ↑12.2% in Body Fat ↓7.7% in peak oxygen consumption ↓7% in RMR despite preservation of lean mass; No change in blood lipids or mood state	5 weeks of swim DT after a competitive swim season in healthy young collegiate athletes significantly increases body weight, body fat, and waist circumference and decreases aerobic fitness and resting metabolism
Lo et al.28	Substudy 1 ♂(8) Substudy 2 ♂(10)	Substudy 1 Reduce daily steps (-w/3w) Substudy 2 Reduce daily steps (-w/2w)	–	Study 1 ↓Daily steps ~6000 to~1400 ↓Plasma insulin Study 2 ↓Daily steps(10.000 to1100) ↓Plasma insulin ↑Plasma triglycerides ↑Intra-abdominal fat mass ↑Total fat-free mass ↑Body mass index	Decreased insulin sensitivity, attenuation of postprandial lipid metabolism, and physical changes suggest that calories used to maintain muscle mass with greater stepping may have been partitioned to visceral fat.
Almeras et al.25	Healthy men ♂ (20)	Running/cycling > 4 h/week (-w/4w)	Total of 6 weeks Trained (14) Sedentary (6)	Detraining induced fat mass gain and reduction on muscle fat oxidation capacity (21%) No alteration on insulin sensitivity	Insulin sensitivity was not directly associated with fat mass gain and related outcomes
Ormsbee and Arciero29	Healthy athletes ♂(10) ♀(6)	Running training > 32 km/wk (-w/2w)	–	↑86% increase in adipose LPL activity The ratio of adipose tissue/muscle LPL (an important indicator of storage of circulating lipids in adipose tissue) increased significantly after DT.	This decrease in muscle LPL, coupled with an increase in adipose LPL, yielded a condition favoring adipose tissue storage.
Mujika and Padilla20	Runners ♂(1743) ♀(4663)	Running (-w/7 years)	1. Previously trained that DT 2. DT that starts training 3. Sedentary	Inverse relationships between the changes in the amount of vigorous exercise and the changes in weight and BMI in men and older women in exercise cessation Changes in waist circumference were also inversely related to changes in the running distance in men who quit	The initiation of vigorous exercise and its cessation decrease and increase, respectively, body weight and intra-abdominal fat, and these changes are proportional to the change in exercise dose.

^*Final speed after progression; HR: Heart rate; DT: detraining; LPL: lipoprotein lipase; BM: body mass; MSG: monosodium glutamate; SAL: saline solution; §: indirect conclusions based on the study results due the absence of specific discussion on this point; OLETF: otsuka long-evans tokushima fatty; HFD: high fat diet.