Effect of one session of aerobic exercise associated with abdominal laser therapy in lipolytic activity, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers

Background: Increased abdominal fat and sedentary lifestyles contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. The combination of exercise and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) appears to be an innovative method to increase the lipolytic rate of abdominal adipocytes, in order to reduce abdominal fat.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of one session of aerobic exercise associated with abdominal laser therapy in lipolytic activity, profile lipid, and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein-CRP).

Methods: Experimental randomized controlled study in 36 participants of female sex divided into three groups: placebo group (PG) (n = 12), experimental group 1 (EG1) (n = 11), and experimental group 2 (EG2) (n = 13). The EG1 and EG2 performed the laser therapy protocol followed by 50 minutes of aerobic exercise on cycle ergometer, of 45%-55% of reserve heart rate; however, in EG2 the laser therapy was applied without power. The PG only performed the laser therapy protocol without power. The anthropometric measures were evaluated, and all participants were subject to blood samples at the beginning and at the end of the intervention for measure glycerol, lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL), and CRP. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the groups in the quantitative variables and Fisher's test to compare the groups in the qualitative variables. To compare the variables between moments (M0 and M1), we used the t test for paired samples.

Results: In the group that performed physical exercise and lipolytic laser and in the group that performs only physical exercise, there was a significant increase in glycerol mobilization between M0 and M1 (P < .001). The same did not occur in the placebo group. Regarding the CRP levels and lipidic profile, no significant differences were observed between moments in the experimental groups.

Conclusion: It is concluded that one session of aerobic exercise associated with LLLT and one session of aerobic exercise appears to be able to increase the lipolytic activity. However, it appears that LLLT does not provide increased value to the aerobic physical exercise by itself in lipolysis process.