Aerobic exercise program reduces oxidative stress and cardiometabolic risks in elderly diabetic patients

Aerobic exercises have been shown to be a simple and economical therapeutic modality that may be considered as a beneficial adjuvant for type 2 diabetics. This study investigated the effect of aerobic exercise program on biochemical oxidative stress indicators and cardio-metabolic risks in patients with type 2 diabetes. This controlled randomized study included 20 type 2 diabetic patients who participated in an aerobic exercise program and a similar number of type 2 diabetic patients in the control group. Cardio-metabolic risk factors such as glycosylated hemoglobin, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, resting heart rate, and resting blood pressure were determined at baseline and after 12 weeks. The oxidative stress indicators (malondialdehyde and oxidative status (superoxide dismutase and catalase activities) were measured. In the aerobic exercise group there were significant reductions in glycosylated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol with significant increase in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Lipid peroxidation as indicated by malondialdehyde significantly decreased in the aerobic exercise group, while the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and total reactive antioxidant potential significantly increased. (p<0.05) The study demonstrates the efficacy of aerobic exercises on cardiometabolic risks, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes and suggests that aerobic exercises may have therapeutic preventative and protective effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus by decreasing oxidative stress and improving antioxidant status.