Low-to-Moderate-Intensity Resistance Exercise Is More Effective than High-Intensity at Improving Endothelial Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Yong Zhang, Ya-Jun Zhang, Hong-Wei Zhang, Wei-Bing Ye and Mallikarjuna Korivi
Additional contact information
Yong Zhang: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China
Ya-Jun Zhang: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China
Hong-Wei Zhang: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China
Wei-Bing Ye: College of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
Mallikarjuna Korivi: College of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: Aerobic exercise has been confirmed to improve endothelial function (EF). However, the effect of resistance exercise (RE) on EF remains controversial. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the effect of RE and its intensities on EF. We searched Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Wiley Online Library, and included 15 articles (17 trials) for the synthesis. Overall, RE intervention significantly improved flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in brachial artery (SMD = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.47, 1.05; p < 0.00001), which represents improved EF. Meta-regression showed that the RE intensity was correlated with changes in FMD (Coef. = ?0.274, T = ?2.18, p = 0.045). We found both intensities of RE improved FMD, but the effect size for the low- to moderate-intensity (30–70%1RM) was bigger (SMD = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.60, 1.43; p < 0.0001) than for the high-intensity (?70%1RM; SMD = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.74; p = 0.005). We further noticed that RE had a beneficial effect (SMD = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.13, 1.09; p = 0.01) on the brachial artery baseline diameter at rest (BAD rest ), and the age variable was correlated with the changes in BAD rest after RE (Coef. = ?0.032, T = ?2.33, p = 0.038). Young individuals (<40 years) presented with a bigger effect size for BAD rest (SMD = 1.23; 95% CI: 0.30, 2.15; p = 0.009), while middle-aged to elderly (?40 years) were not responsive to RE (SMD = 0.07; 95% CI: ?0.28, 0.42; p = 0.70). Based on our findings, we conclude that RE intervention can improve the EF, and low- to moderate-intensity is more effective than high-intensity.

Keywords: endothelial function; resistance exercise; flow-mediated dilatation; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6723/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6723/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6723-:d:579716

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().