Aerobic and Aerobic-Oriented Exercise for Anthropometric, Androgen-Related, and Reproductive Endocrine Outcomes in Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Applied Psychology, School of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
- 2School of Physical Education and Training, Xi’an Physical Education University, No. 1 Dongcheng South Road, Huyi District, Xi’an 710399, China
- 3Nutrilite Health Institute, Amway R&D Center, 720 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- 4College of Sports Training, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin 301617, China
Abstract
Background: Aerobic exercise is recommended within lifestyle management for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but its effects on anthropometric and endocrine outcomes remain inconsistent. Methods: Five databases were searched from inception through July 2026. Controlled trials of structured aerobic or aerobic-oriented exercise lasting at least four weeks were eligible when the comparator did not receive an exercise program expected to improve aerobic fitness. Between-group changes were expressed as Hedges’ g and pooled using random-effects models with cluster-robust small-sample inference. Subgroup, univariable meta-regression, and dose–response analyses were exploratory. Results: Twenty-two reports representing 20 independent trials were included. The pooled standardized estimate marginally favored exercise for body weight (g = −0.09, 95% CI −0.13 to −0.05), although its magnitude was trivial and the 95% prediction interval crossed the null (−0.29 to 0.11). Exercise was associated with lower body mass index (g = −0.20, 95% CI −0.33 to −0.06), waist-to-hip ratio (g = −0.36, 95% CI −0.56 to −0.19), total testosterone (g = −0.43, 95% CI −0.67 to −0.20), and free testosterone (g = −0.60, 95% CI −0.99 to −0.21), and with higher sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG; g = 0.24, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.44). No clear pooled effects were observed for waist circumference, body fat percentage, free androgen index, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, or anti-Müllerian hormone. Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone estimates lay at the statistical boundary and were heterogeneous; leave-one-study-out inference was also unstable for free testosterone and SHBG. Certainty was low or very low across outcomes. Conclusions: Aerobic or aerobic-oriented exercise showed favorable pooled differences in selected anthropometric and androgen-related markers, but low certainty and the sensitivity of some estimates preclude an endocrine-targeted dose or reproductive-benefit claim.
Related
- Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)/polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): current and future trends
- Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process
- The Impact of Incretin-Based Therapies on Anthropometric and Metabolic Parameters in Women with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome.
- Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Systemic Inflammatory Markers in Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): A Cross-Sectional Study
- Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process
BibTeX
@article{qiu2026aerobic,
title = {{Aerobic and Aerobic-Oriented Exercise for Anthropometric, Androgen-Related, and Reproductive Endocrine Outcomes in Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis}},
author = {Lanxin Qiu and Yunzhi Emma Huang and Mingnan Zhuang and Juntao Kan and Zhengqi Qiu},
journal = {Metabolites},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/metabo16100745},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/16/10/745},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Aerobic and Aerobic-Oriented Exercise for Anthropometric, Androgen-Related, and Reproductive Endocrine Outcomes in Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
AU - Lanxin Qiu
AU - Yunzhi Emma Huang
AU - Mingnan Zhuang
AU - Juntao Kan
AU - Zhengqi Qiu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Metabolites
DO - 10.3390/metabo16100745
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/16/10/745
AB - Background: Aerobic exercise is recommended within lifestyle management for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but its effects on anthropometric and endocrine outcomes remain inconsistent. Methods: Five databases were searched from inception through July 2026. Controlled trials of structured aerobic or aerobic-oriented exercise lasting at least four weeks were eligible when the comparator did not receive an exercise program expected to improve aerobic fitness. Between-group changes were expressed as Hedges’ g and pooled using random-effects models with cluster-robust small-sample inference. Subgroup, univariable meta-regression, and dose–response analyses were exploratory. Results: Twenty-two reports representing 20 independent trials were included. The pooled standardized estimate marginally favored exercise for body weight (g = −0.09, 95% CI −0.13 to −0.05), although its magnitude was trivial and the 95% prediction interval crossed the null (−0.29 to 0.11). Exercise was associated with lower body mass index (g = −0.20, 95% CI −0.33 to −0.06), waist-to-hip ratio (g = −0.36, 95% CI −0.56 to −0.19), total testosterone (g = −0.43, 95% CI −0.67 to −0.20), and free testosterone (g = −0.60, 95% CI −0.99 to −0.21), and with higher sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG; g = 0.24, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.44). No clear pooled effects were observed for waist circumference, body fat percentage, free androgen index, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, or anti-Müllerian hormone. Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone estimates lay at the statistical boundary and were heterogeneous; leave-one-study-out inference was also unstable for free testosterone and SHBG. Certainty was low or very low across outcomes. Conclusions: Aerobic or aerobic-oriented exercise showed favorable pooled differences in selected anthropometric and androgen-related markers, but low certainty and the sensitivity of some estimates preclude an endocrine-targeted dose or reproductive-benefit claim.
SN - 2218-1989
ER -