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Sports Medicine

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17-07-2023 | Systematic Review

Metabolic Adaptations to Morning Versus Afternoon Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Authors: Pablo Galan-Lopez, Rafael A. Casuso

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 10/2023

Abstract

Background

Some physiological responses such as circulating glucose as well as muscle performance show a circadian rhythmicity. In the present study we aimed to quantitatively synthesize the data comparing the metabolic adaptations induced by morning and afternoon training.

Methods

PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for studies comparing the metabolic adaptations (> 2 weeks) between morning and afternoon training. A meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models with DerSimonian–Laird methods for fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbAc1), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

Results

We identified 9 studies with 11 different populations (n = 450 participants). We found that afternoon exercise was more effective at reducing circulating triglycerides [standardized mean difference (SMD) − 0.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) − 0.616 to − 0.025] than morning training. Moreover, afternoon tended to decrease fasting blood glucose (SMD − 0.24; 95% CI − 0.478 to 0.004) to a greater extent than morning training.

Conclusion

Metabolic adaptations to exercise may be dependent on the time of day. Morning training does not show superior effects to afternoon exercise in any of the analyzed outcomes. However, afternoon training is more effective at reducing circulating triglyceride levels and perhaps at reducing fasting blood glucose than morning training.

The study was preregistered at PROSPERO (CRD42021287860).

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Title: Metabolic Adaptations to Morning Versus Afternoon Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Pablo Galan-Lopez
Rafael A. Casuso
Publication date: 17-07-2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Sports Medicine / Issue 10/2023
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01879-0

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Metabolic Adaptations to Morning Versus Afternoon Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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