Effect of aerobic physical exercise on the lipid profile in type 2 diabetic elderly women attended in a basic health unit in Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil

ABSTRACT This study aims to evaluate the influence of a physical exercise program on the lipid profile in type 2 diabetic elderly women. The patients were selected from a Basic Unit of Health (Mandacaru - NIS II, Maringá, Paraná), that attends 200 type 2 diabetic subjects. Among these patients, 40 women aged 60 years or more were randomically selected. The sample was distributed in two groups of 20 patients each: the Trained Group (TG), that received nutritional instructions and participated in supervised sessions of aerobic physical exercise; Control Group (CG), that received only nutritional instructions. The exercises were applied three times a week, one hour each session. Results showed that the adopted protocol promoted a significant reduction in triglycerides levels (pre-test = 190 ± 76,67 and post-test = 125,33 ± 45,82 mg/dL, p<0,05) and also in the LDL-cholesterol (pre-test = 147,98 ± 29,98 and post-test = 122,24 ± 17,61 mg/dL, p<0,05) for the TG. Therefore, we concluded that the adopted exercise program improved the lipid profile in type 2 diabetic elderly women , showing the importance of practicing oriented physical activity in health primary units.