Effects of increased daily physical activity on mental health and depression biomarkers in postmenopausal women.
Masaki Takahashi, Pei Jean Lim, Miku Tsubosaka and 5 others
PMID 31037019WHAT IT FOUND
Depression scores did not differ between groups after 8 weeks of increased daily activity in postmenopausal women.
Serum BDNF and serotonin rose in the active group, but oxidative stress markers did not improve.
Key findings
01The GDS depression score did not differ between groups, and 3 active-group participants and 6 control-group participants remained in the 5-9 range after 8 weeks.
02Blood BDNF rose from 2,0764.7 to 2,4252.3 pg/ml and serotonin rose from 13.9 to 15.0 ng/ml in the active group after 8 weeks.
03The active group increased step count from 6,043.0 to 7,978.0 steps/day and moderate-to-vigorous activity from 77.3 to 85.1 min/day after 8 weeks.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
38 women were assigned, and one participant was excluded from analysis. The tables still show 19 participants in each group, despite the statement that one participant was excluded from analysis. The participants were mostly mentally healthy, which the authors say may explain why the GDS score did not differ. Diet, sleep time and sleep quality were not tracked, so they could have influenced the results. The active group was asked to increase activity above usual lifestyle under free-living conditions. The follow-up was only 8 weeks. Oxidative stress and antioxidant markers did not show intervention effects, and the authors suggest the activity intensity may have been too low.
Declared interests
This work was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI 15K21434) and Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the BDNF and serotonin changes as proof that increasing daily activity treats or prevents depression. The depression scores did not differ between groups, the women were mostly mentally healthy, and oxidative stress markers did not improve.