A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal

Effects of Low‐Intensity Endurance Training on Aerobic Fitness and Risk Factors of Cardiometabolic Health in Working‐Age Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis




AuthorsNuuttila, Olli‐Pekka; Matomäki, Pekka; Raitanen, Jani; Sievänen, Harri; Vasankari, Tommi

PublisherWiley

Publication year2026

Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

Article numbere70208

Volume36

Issue1

ISSN0905-7188

eISSN1600-0838

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/sms.70208

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.70208

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/508674188

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY

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Abstract

There is a lack of meta-analyses focusing on low-intensity endurance training (LIT), including considerations of the lowest effective intensity across different outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of LIT on aerobic fitness and cardiometabolic health. Randomized controlled trials involving healthy adults aged 18–65 were included if the training intervention was ≥ 3 weeks, intensity was exclusively below the first lactate/ventilatory threshold (VT1), or ≤ 60% heart rate reserve, or maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), or ≤ 75% maximum heart rate. Outcome variables were VO2max, VT1, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma/serum low-density, high-density, and total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose. Effect sizes (ES) were calculated according to Hedge's g. The subgroup analyses (Q-test) examined the effects of training and background characteristics on outcomes. A total of 50 studies with 824 participants in the intervention groups were included. LIT had a large effect on relative VO2max (ES = 0.94, p < 0.001, I2 = 0.73) and a moderate effect (ES = 0.74, p = 0.003, I2 = 0.57) on VT1 compared with the control group. Small but significant effects (|ES| = 0.29–0.44, p < 0.05, I2 = 0.39–0.79) were observed for other variables, excluding glucose. According to the subgroup analysis, exercise intensity was associated with the adaptations only in VO2max (p = 0.02). LIT improved aerobic fitness and cardiometabolic health, but effects on fitness were more pronounced. Although higher exercise intensity was associated with greater adaptations in VO2max, no minimum intensity for adaptations was detected for most outcomes. Notable heterogeneity in responses was observed, which likely reflects both methodological differences (e.g., intensity prescription) between studies and uncertainty regarding the response magnitude.


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Funding information in the publication
The authors have nothing to report. Open access publishing facilitated by Jyväskylän yliopisto, as part of the Wiley - FinELib agreement.


Last updated on 29/01/2026 03:02:56 PM