Microparticle levels after exercises in healthy and obese individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: Microparticles (MPs) are 0.1-1 µm vesicles linked to endothelial dysfunction, particularly in obese and hypertensive patients. As exercise is suggested to reduce circulating MPs, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated MP level changes in healthy and obese individuals after physical exercise interventions. Material and Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search (2000-2024) was conducted across five major databases. Inclusion criteria covered studies (RCTs, cohorts, retrospectives) documenting MP expression in healthy or obese individuals post-exercise. A random-effects model was applied for heterogeneous data (I2 > 50%). Results: Thirteen observational studies (n=335) were included in the quantitative analysis. A pooled analysis of all MP types across the entire population showed no statistically significant change after exercise (p=0.36). However, subgroup analysis revealed a critical difference: healthy participants showed a significant decrease in MP levels post-exercise (p=0.009). Conclusion: Physical exercise significantly reduces endothelial microparticles in healthy individuals, a change associated with improved vascular function. In contrast, this adaptive response appears attenuated in obese individuals, suggesting their metabolic status decreases vasculogenic reactivity.