Aerobic Physical Training Reduces Anthropometric Indexes and Hyperandrogenism in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Physical activity has been considered to be effective in the treatment of metabolic alterations and infertility of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Thus, we evaluate the effects of two aerobic physical training protocols in women with PCOS. Randomized controlled clinical trial study. PCOS women were stratified by body mass index (BMI) in continuous aerobic training (n=28), intermittent aerobic training (n=29) and control group without training (n= 30). Testosterone, androstenedione, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, sex hormone binding globulin, estradiol, cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), glycemia, fasting insulin, homocysteine and C-reactive protein were measured. Body composition was determined by anthropometric assessment and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). All characteristics were evaluated before and after 16-week of aerobic training or observation. Statistical analyses werecarried out using SAS 9.0 software. Waist (WC, p=0,045) and hip circumference (p=0.032), as cholesterol (p=0.01), LDL (p=0.03) and testosterone (p=<0.01) reduced after continuous training. The intermittent training decreased WC (p=0.014), waist-hip ratio (p=0.012), testosterone (p=0.019) and free androgen index (p=0.037). In the PCOS women without training (observation) there was an increase in WC (p=0.049), total body fat (p=0.015) and body fat percentage (p=0.034), total arms mass (p<0.01), trunk fat percentage(p=0.033), leg fat percentage(p=0.021) and total gynoid mass (p=0.011). We did not observe differences in others features measured. The intermittent training seems to be more efficient in the control of hyperandrogenism and the continuous training in the control of lipid parameters. However, both training protocols reduced anthropometric indexes and hyperandrogenism, relevant features of PCOS, and may represent an important treatment strategy for this women.