Effect of resistance training on lipid profile in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective Physical exercise decreases cardiovascular risk and can alter the lipid profile in postmenopausal women. Although it is believed that resistance training can potentially decrease serum lipid levels in postmenopausal females, the evidence remains inconclusive. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to clarify the impact of resistance training on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women. Methods Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline and Embase were searched. RCTs that evaluated the effect of resistance training on total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels were included in this review. Effect size was estimated using the random effects model. Subgroup analyses based on age, duration of intervention, pre-enrolment serum lipid levels and body mass index were performed. Results Data pooled from 19 RCTs revealed that resistance training can reduce TC [weighted mean difference (WMD) −11.47 mg/dl; p = 0.002], LDL-C (WMD −8.48 mg/dl; p = 0.01) and TG (WMD −6.61 mg/dl; p = 0.043) levels. TC levels decreased particularly in subjects aged < 60 years (WMD −10.77 mg/dl; p = 0.003), in RCTs lasting < 16 weeks (WMD −15.70 mg/dl; p = 0.048), and in subjects with hypercholesterolaemia (WMD −12.36 mg/dl; p = 0.001) or obesity (WMD −19.35 mg/dl; p = 0.006) before RCT enrolment. There was a significant decrease in LDL-C (WMD −14.38 mg/dl; p = 0.002) levels in patients with LDL-C ≥ 130 mg/dl before trial enrolment. Resistance training reduced HDL-C (WMD −2.97 mg/dl; p = 0.01) levels particularly in subjects with obesity. TG (WMD −10.71 mg/dl; p = 0.01) levels decreased particularly when the intervention lasted < 16 weeks. Conclusion Resistance training can decrease TC, LDL-C and TG levels in postmenopausal females. The impact of resistance training on HDL-C levels was small, and was only observed in individuals with obesity. The effect of resistance training on the lipid profile was more notable in short-term interventions and in postmenopausal women with dyslipidaemia or obesity before trial enrolment.