Associations of Aerobic and Strength Exercise with Clinical Laboratory Test Values

Abstract

PURPOSE: Physical exercise is known to affect levels of blood-based biomarkers. However, exercise status is generally not considered in the interpretation of common laboratory results. This study examines the associations of habitual aerobic and strength exercise participation with laboratory test results. METHODS: The effects of self-reported days per week of aerobic and strength exercise participation on laboratory test results for 26 biomarkers in adults aged 18 to 34 years (n = 80,111) were evaluated using percentile distribution analyses and multivariate regression. RESULTS: Days per week of self-reported exercise participation was associated with significant shifts in results for most biomarkers evaluated. In both men and women, more days per week of either aerobic or strength exercise were significantly associated with lower levels of glucose, hemoglobin A1c, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, estimated glomerular filtration rate, globulin, and C-reactive protein, and significantly higher levels of HDL cholesterol, creatinine, iron, and percent saturation (all p <.05). Exercise frequency had no significant effect on thyroid stimulating hormone levels in men or women. Type of exercise or gender influenced the observed relationships with exercise frequency for total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase uric acid, bilirubin, and iron binding capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Physical exercise participation is associated with levels of many common biomarkers. Both forms of exercise shifted the distribution of results into the direction suggestive of better health, yet the majority of results still tended to fall within reference intervals. Reported relationships may help clinicians and patients to better understand and interpret laboratory results in athletic populations and possibly re-evaluate interpretation of reference intervals for physically active populations.