Short-term effects of moderate intensity physical activity in patients with metabolic syndrome

Objectives: 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