Evidence mapPaperPMID 41673637Full record

SynthesisBMC endocrine disorders2026

Comparative effects of different exercise types on inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Mengjing Dong, Xu Zhang, Simeng Lu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewNetwork Meta-AnalysisComparative Study
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC endocrine disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Mengjing DongBeijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Xu ZhangBeijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China. zhangxucfcbsu@163.com.
Simeng LuBeijing Xicheng District Institute of Sports Science, Beijing, 100045, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFor patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) living with overweight or obesity, systemic chronic low-grade inflammation induced by excessive fat accumulation not only exacerbates insulin resistance but also serves as a pivotal driver of disease progression and cardiovascular complications. As a vital component of non-pharmacological therapy, exercise has demonstrated the potential to modulate immune responses and improve metabolic status, holding positive significance for combating this inflammatory process and delaying disease progression.

objectiveThis study aims to compare the effects of aerobic exercise (AE), resistance training (RT), and combined aerobic and resistance training (CE) on inflammatory marker levels in T2DM patients living with overweight and obesity through a network meta-analysis (NMA).

methodLiterature searches were conducted up to November 2025 across Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases to identify English-language randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting the inclusion criteria.

resultsA random-effects NMA was performed within a frequentist framework using Stata 17.0. 71 RCTs (N=4,266) were included. Results indicated that AE exhibits the highest probability of effectiveness in reducing high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (SUCRA = 81.7; SMD = -1.18; 95% CI: -1.81, -0.55; P < 0.001) and leptin (SUCRA = 91.5; SMD = -0.71; 95% CI: -1.05, -0.37; P < 0.001) levels as well as increasing adiponectin (SUCRA = 76.7; SMD = 1.13; 95% CI: 0.42, 1.84; P = 0.002) levels. At the same time, CE appears to offer the greatest potential in lowering IL-6 (SUCRA=76.6; SMD=-0.93; 95% CI: -1.63, -0.23; P=0.01) levels. RT did not significantly affect most inflammatory markers. TNF-α levels were not significantly modulated across any of the exercise interventions.

conclusionThis NMA based on RCTs confirms that different exercise types exhibit varying efficacy on distinct inflammatory markers in T2DM patients with overweight or obesity. These findings provide an evidence-based reference for clinicians when selecting exercise modalities based on a patient’s specific inflammatory profile, thereby more effectively managing their chronic inflammatory state. Given the holistic nature of lifestyle interventions, future research may integrate lifestyle control measures such as calorie restriction or anti-inflammatory diets. The current study was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), ID: CRD420251218729. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

BiomarkersDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2ExerciseExercise TherapyInflammationObesityOverweightHumansResistance TrainingBiomarkersExerciseInflammatory markersNetwork meta-analysisObesityOverweightType 2 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

PMID41673637
PMCPMC12922340

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.