Current evidence of physical exercise interventions in cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract

Considerable knowledge has accumulated in recent decades concerning the significance of physical activity in the treatment of a number of diseases, including cardiovascular and metabolic disorders like insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, endothelial dysfunction. Are poorly elucidated, due in part to the heterogeneity of the population examined and variability of the programs used in the studies. The objective of this review is to present evidence including cellular and molecular mechanisms of exercise as non-pharmacological therapy in the treatment and management of cardiovascular risk factors. The search strategy included the systematic review of the biomedical literature on interventions with exercise, fitness, rehabilitation and physical activity on risk factors, biochemical and physiological aspects of cardiovascular risk associated with the following search terms: obesity and overweight, hypertension, dyslipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus (January and December 2010 in the databases LILACS, Medline, PubMed and Cochrane Library). The possible mechanisms of action are briefly examined and the principles for prescribing exercise therapy are discussed, focusing on the type and amount of exercise and possible contraindications.