Aurelian Udristioiu
The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a standard physical exercise protocol in terms of returning patients with signs of metabolic syndrome (MS) to a normal metabolic status. Patients showing signs of MS (45 adult females and 35 adult males, 20-50 years old) without any disability applied a combined treatment consisting of a hypocaloric diet (<2,500 kcal/day) and a program of physical exercise using a fitness bicycle. Prior to the exercise program and without any treatment, 23% showed a healthy lipid metabolism, 28% presented high LDL and low HDL, 14% showed an atherosclerotic index and LDL/HDL >3.5 for males and >2.5 for females, 5% exhibited values predictive of coronary risk (CHOL/HDL >5), and the remaining 30% had dyslipid syndrome types 2-4, with high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. After 3 months of standard physical effort, 64 patients (80%) exhibited normalized biochemical results and a normal health status. Of the patients who failed to respond to this standard physical exercise regimen, 16 (20%) might require drug-based treatment in addition to exercise and dieting. The diet/exercise combination presented in this study was effective for treatment of MS.
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