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Influence of exercise intervention on gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Aims

Exercise intervention might be a promising approach to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus. However, the results remained controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the effect of exercise intervention on gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods

PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of exercise intervention on gestational diabetes mellitus were included. Two investigators independently searched articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcome was the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, and gestational age at birth. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect model.

Results

Five RCTs involving 1872 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control intervention, exercise intervention was found to significantly reduce the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (std. mean difference 0.62; 95% CI 0.43–0.89; P = 0.01), but demonstrated no influence on preterm birth (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.44–1.99; P = 0.86), gestational age at birth (std. mean difference −0.03; 95% CI −0.12 to 0.07; P = 0.60), glucose 2-h post-OGTT (std. mean difference −1.02; 95% CI −2.75 to 0.71; P = 0.25), birth weight (std. mean difference −0.10; 95% CI −0.25 to 0.04; P = 0.16), Apgar score less than 7 (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.21–2.91; P = 0.71), and preeclampsia (OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.53–2.07; P = 0.88).

Conclusions

Compared to control intervention, exercise intervention was found to significantly reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus, but had no significant influence on preterm birth, gestational age at birth, glucose 2-h post-OGTT, birth weight, Apgar score less than 7, and preeclampsia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Chongqing People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China

    J. Zheng & H. Wang

  2. Digestive Department, Chongqing People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China

    M. Ren

Authors
  1. J. Zheng
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  2. H. Wang
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  3. M. Ren
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Correspondence to M. Ren.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Zheng, J., Wang, H. & Ren, M. Influence of exercise intervention on gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Endocrinol Invest 40, 1027–1033 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-017-0673-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-017-0673-3

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