Effect of short and long moderate-intensity exercises in modifying cardiometabolic markers in sedentary Kenyans aged 50 years and above

OBJECTIVES: We compared effects of shorter moderate-intensity exercise time (<10 min bouts) on cardiometabolic parameters with the current recommendations among elderly adults. METHODS: Fifty-three sedentary individuals aged ≥50 years were divided into exercise groups1: male and2 female short-duration bouts (M(S) and F(S), respectively), and3 male and4 female long-duration bouts (M(L) and F(L), respectively). Short-duration bouts consisted three 5–10 min moderate-intensity jogging sessions daily, and long-duration bouts consisted 30–60 min sessions 3–5 days weekly. Cumulative exercise times were equivalent. Physical activity (PA) was measured by log and activity monitors. Fasting venous blood at baseline and 8 weekly intervals was used for blood chemistry. RESULTS: After 24 weeks, M(S) and F(S) with total cholesterol (TC) of >5.2 mmol/L and >5.3 mmol/L decreased from 22.2% to 14.8% and from 30.9% to 11.5%, respectively. For M(L), this decreased from 25.9% to 3.7%, while F(L) had 0% change. In M(S) and M(L), TC/high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) of >5.0 mmol/L dropped from 22.2% to 7.4% and from 22.2% to 15.4%, respectively. In F(S) and F(L), TC/HDL of >4.5 mmol/L declined from 19.2% to 7.7% and from 19.2% to 3.8%, respectively. M(S) and M(L) with fasting blood glucose of ≥5.5 mmol/L declined from 40.7% to 11.1% and from 33.3% to 3.7%, respectively. Similarly, it declined from 46.2% to 0% and 42.3% to 11.5% for F(S) and F(L), respectively. There were no differences in the changes between regimes throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Bouts lasting <10 min per session are as good as those lasting;≥30 min in improving cardiometabolic profiles of sedentary adults aged ≥50 years.