Li Shu , Ruizhe Jiang , Fang Wang , Yongjin Xu , Ping Wang , Yuanying Ma , Jinxia Pan , Cong Huang
{"title":"Effects of exercise on blood glucose levels and pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis and meta-regression","authors":"Li Shu , Ruizhe Jiang , Fang Wang , Yongjin Xu , Ping Wang , Yuanying Ma , Jinxia Pan , Cong Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.jesf.2025.09.001","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Due to variations in exercise protocols, the effects of exercise on GDM remain inconsistent. This review aims to explore the effects of exercise on maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with GDM, and whether there is a dose-response relationship between exercise volume and pregnancy outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, and VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Full-Text Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials. Cochrane RevMan and R were used for statistical analysis, and studies were evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. Weighted-mean standardized mean differences were calculated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity was evaluated using <em>I</em><sup>2</sup>.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-four studies and 3,477 participants were included. Results from meta-analysis showed that exercise significantly lowered fasting blood glucose (FBG) (SMD = −1.69, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 96 %, <em>p</em> < 0.0001), 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2-hPBG) (SMD = −2.10, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 96 %, <em>p</em> < 0.0001), and glycated hemoglobin (MD = −0.95, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 98 %, <em>p</em> < 0.0001) and reduced the risk of gestational hypertension (RR = 0.24, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 0 %, <em>p</em> < 0.0001) and cesarean section (RR = 0.71, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 53 %, <em>p</em> = 0.0005), preterm birth (RR = 0.51, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 31 %, <em>p</em> = 0.002), macrosomia (RR = 0.40, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 19 %, <em>p</em> < 0.0001), and neonatal hypoglycemia (RR = 0.49, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 0 %, <em>p</em> = 0.03). Subgroup analyses indicated that moderate combined aerobic and resistance exercise improved FBG (SMD = −2.39, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 98 %, <em>p</em> < 0.0001), 2-hPBG (SMD = −2.96, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 97 %, <em>p</em> < 0.0001) and reduced the risks of cesarean section (RR = 0.68, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 40 %, <em>p</em> = 0.02), preterm birth (RR = 0.46, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 23 %, <em>p</em> = 0.01) and macrosomia (RR = 0.27, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 0 %, <em>p</em> < 0.0001). In addition, the meta-regression analysis demonstrated a significant dose-response relationship between exercise volume and 2-hPBG (<em>β</em> = −0.004, <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 36.9 %, <em>p</em> = 0.002).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Moderate-intensity combined aerobic and resistance exercise, performed for at least 30 min per session on more than three days per week for at least six weeks, is associated with more pronounced improvements in glycemic control in women with GDM. It also reduces the risk of cesarean section, preterm birth, and macrosomia. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing exercise prescriptions to enhance both maternal and neonatal health.</div></div><div><h3>Registration number for clinical trials</h3><div>PROSPERO (CRD42021286338).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15793,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness","volume":"23 4","pages":"Pages 416-425"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1728869X25000656","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"SPORT SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Due to variations in exercise protocols, the effects of exercise on GDM remain inconsistent. This review aims to explore the effects of exercise on maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with GDM, and whether there is a dose-response relationship between exercise volume and pregnancy outcomes.
Methods
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, and VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Full-Text Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials. Cochrane RevMan and R were used for statistical analysis, and studies were evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. Weighted-mean standardized mean differences were calculated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I2.
Results
Twenty-four studies and 3,477 participants were included. Results from meta-analysis showed that exercise significantly lowered fasting blood glucose (FBG) (SMD = −1.69, I2 = 96 %, p < 0.0001), 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2-hPBG) (SMD = −2.10, I2 = 96 %, p < 0.0001), and glycated hemoglobin (MD = −0.95, I2 = 98 %, p < 0.0001) and reduced the risk of gestational hypertension (RR = 0.24, I2 = 0 %, p < 0.0001) and cesarean section (RR = 0.71, I2 = 53 %, p = 0.0005), preterm birth (RR = 0.51, I2 = 31 %, p = 0.002), macrosomia (RR = 0.40, I2 = 19 %, p < 0.0001), and neonatal hypoglycemia (RR = 0.49, I2 = 0 %, p = 0.03). Subgroup analyses indicated that moderate combined aerobic and resistance exercise improved FBG (SMD = −2.39, I2 = 98 %, p < 0.0001), 2-hPBG (SMD = −2.96, I2 = 97 %, p < 0.0001) and reduced the risks of cesarean section (RR = 0.68, I2 = 40 %, p = 0.02), preterm birth (RR = 0.46, I2 = 23 %, p = 0.01) and macrosomia (RR = 0.27, I2 = 0 %, p < 0.0001). In addition, the meta-regression analysis demonstrated a significant dose-response relationship between exercise volume and 2-hPBG (β = −0.004, I2 = 36.9 %, p = 0.002).
Conclusions
Moderate-intensity combined aerobic and resistance exercise, performed for at least 30 min per session on more than three days per week for at least six weeks, is associated with more pronounced improvements in glycemic control in women with GDM. It also reduces the risk of cesarean section, preterm birth, and macrosomia. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing exercise prescriptions to enhance both maternal and neonatal health.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness is the official peer-reviewed journal of The Society of Chinese Scholars on Exercise Physiology and Fitness (SCSEPF), the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China (HKPFA), and the Hong Kong Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Science (HKASMSS). It is published twice a year, in June and December, by Elsevier.
The Journal accepts original investigations, comprehensive reviews, case studies and short communications on current topics in exercise science, physical fitness and physical education.