The Effect of Exercise on Inflammatory Markers in PCOS Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a typical female disorder that influences different aspects of women's health. There is a direct association between inflammation and PCOS status. Some evidence supports the beneficial effects of exercise on inflammation status in PCOS women, while others cannot find a significant association. This study aimed to clarify the effect of exercise on inflammatory markers in women with PCOS. METHOD: Electronic searches in international databases were performed to identify eligible publications up to August 2021, which compared the effects of exercise on inflammatory markers in the intervention group compared to the control group in PCOS women. A weighted mean difference (WMD) using a random-effect model was applied for reporting results. RESULTS: A total of 2525 records were found via database searching, of which 10 were eligible to be included in the analysis. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that exercise could significantly lower the serum level of CRP (WMD: −0.43 mg/L; 95% CI: −0.66 to −0.21; P ≤ 0.01; I(2): 84.9%; P < ≤0.01), while it was not considerable for adiponectin (WMD: −0.33 μg/mL; 95% CI: −0.97 to 0.31; P=0.30; I(2): 0%; P=0.97). In addition, subgroup analyses indicated a significant effect of exercise on CRP in individuals ≥30 years, sample size ≥15 individuals, and aerobic training. CONCLUSION: Exercise training can reduce CRP levels in women with CRP, particularly in women older than 30 years of age, and in studies with more than 15 participants. The effect of exercise on adiponectin was not noticeable.