Wuqinxi Qigong as an Alternative Exercise for Improving Risk Factors Associated with Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

• Main Authors: Liye Zou, Yangjie Zhang, Jeffer Eidi Sasaki, Albert S. Yeung, Lin Yang, Paul D. Loprinzi, Jian Sun, Shijie Liu, Jane Jie Yu, Shengyan Sun, Yuqiang Mai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: exercise; Qigong; mind–body exercise; metabolic syndrome; risk factor
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/8/1396
• ISSN: 1660-4601

<i>Background:</i> The improvement of living standards has led to increases in the prevalence of hypokinetic diseases. In particular, multifactorial complex diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, are becoming more prevalent. Currently, developing effective methods to combat or prevent metabolic syndrome is of critical public health importance. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the existing literature regarding the effects of Wuqinxi exercise on reducing risk factors related to metabolic syndrome. <i>Methods:</i> Both English- and Chinese-language databases were searched for randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of Wuqinxi on these outcomes. Meanwhile, we extracted usable data for computing pooled effect size estimates, along with the random-effects model. <i>Results:</i> The synthesized results showed positive effects of Wuqinxi exercise on systolic blood pressure (SBP, <i>SMD</i> = 0.62, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.85, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <i>I</i>² = 24.06%), diastolic blood pressure (DBP, <i>SMD</i> = 0.62, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.00, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <i>I</i>² = 61.28%), total plasma cholesterol (TC, <i>SMD</i> = 0.88, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.36, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <i>I</i>² = 78.71%), triglyceride (TG, <i>SMD</i> = 0.87, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.24, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <i>I</i>² = 67.22%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, <i>SMD</i> = 1.24, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.72, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <i>I</i>² = 78.27%), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL, <i>SMD</i> = 0.95, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.46, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <i>I</i>² = 82.27%). In addition, regression results showed that longer-duration Wuqinxi intervention significantly improved DBP (<i>&#946;</i> = 0.00016, <i>Q</i> = 5.72, df = 1, <i>p</i> = 0.02), TC (<i>&#946;</i> = &#8722;0.00010, <i>Q</i> = 9.03, df = 1, <i>p</i> = 0.01), TG (<i>&#946;</i> = 0.00012, <i>Q</i> = 6.23, df = 1, <i>p</i> = 0.01), and LDL (<i>&#946;</i> = 0.00011, <i>Q</i> = 5.52, df = 1, <i>p</i> = 0.02). <i>Conclusions:</i> Wuqinxi may be an effective intervention to alleviate the cardiovascular disease risk factors of metabolic syndrome.