Does Exercise Affect Telomere Length? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Molecular Biology
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Telomere length serves as a biomarker for biological aging and is associated with age-related diseases and mortality.
• Cellular division naturally leads to telomere shortening.
• Physical activity is hypothesized to positively influence the rate of telomere attrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the effects of exercise on telomere length.
• To identify specific exercise modalities and durations that are most beneficial for telomere maintenance.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted using keywords such as 'exercise,' 'telomere length,' and 'randomized controlled trial.'
• Seven randomized controlled trials involving 939 participants were included after screening 49 studies.
• Data were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed using a fixed-effect model.

Main Results:

• Exercise demonstrates a beneficial effect on telomere length.
• Aerobic exercise was identified as an effective type of exercise, showing a significant effect (MD, -0.03; 95% CI, -0.04 to -0.01).
• Exercise interventions exceeding six months, coupled with lifestyle changes, also showed benefits (MD, -0.02; 95% CI, -0.04 to -0.01).

Conclusions:

• Aerobic exercise is the recommended type for positively impacting telomere length.
• An exercise duration of more than six months is crucial for achieving significant benefits in telomere length.