Physical exercise and epicardial adipose tissue: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

We performed a meta‐analysis of the effects of exercise on epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus (since inception to 1 February 2020) of randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of exercise interventions alone (with no concomitant weight loss intervention) on EAT. The standardized mean difference (Hedges' g) and 95% confidence interval between interventions were computed using a random effects model. Ten studies (including 521 participants who had, on average, overweight/obesity) met all inclusion criteria. Interventions were supervised and lasted 2 to 16 weeks (≥3 sessions·per week). Exercise significantly reduced EAT (g = 0.82 [0.57–1.07]) irrespective of the duration of the intervention or the EAT imaging assessment method. Exercise benefits were separately confirmed for endurance (six studies, n = 287; g = 0.83 [0.52–1.15]) but not for resistance exercise training (due to insufficient data for quantitative synthesis). It was not possible to compare the effect of high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate‐intensity continuous training (two studies, one reporting higher benefits with HIIT and the other no differences). Physical exercise interventions—particularly endurance training, with further evidence needed for other exercise modalities—appear as an effective strategy for reducing EAT in individuals with overweight/obesity, which supports their implementation for cardiovascular risk reduction.