12-month structured exercise and epicardial fat in older adults: a randomized trial
In community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older, a 12-month structured exercise program was associated with a greater reduction in epicardial adipose volume than health education alone, and with lower serum M-CSF; more weekly sessions went with larger reductions. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
156 community-dwelling adults aged 60 or older were evenly allocated to structured exercise or a control group receiving health education only. [1]
The absolute change in epicardial adipose volume differed significantly between groups: exercise versus control -15.15 mL (95% CI -22.61 to -7.69). [1]
Each additional weekly exercise session was associated with a 3.156 mL greater reduction in epicardial adipose volume (R = 0.084). [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Single-center pragmatic randomized controlled trial (Zelen design); abstract
- Population / context
- Community-dwelling adults aged 60 or older; 118 completed the 12-month follow-up.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 16, 2026
Exercise versus education in adults 60 and older
This single-center randomized controlled trial used a Zelen design and enrolled 156 community-dwelling adults aged 60 or older, allocated evenly to a structured exercise group or a control group. The control group received health education only. The exercise group did one supervised session at a center plus at least two home-based sessions per week, with matched intensity and duration. Epicardial adipose volume, body fat measures and circulating pro-inflammatory factors were measured at baseline and after 12 months.
Supporting source [1]
Epicardial fat fell more with exercise; M-CSF lower
Of the randomized participants, 57 in the control group and 61 in the exercise group completed the 12-month follow-up (55 men, 46.6%; mean age 69.17 ± 4.41 years). The absolute change in epicardial adipose volume differed significantly between groups: exercise versus control -15.15 mL (95% CI -22.61 to -7.69). The conclusion reports lower circulating M-CSF levels with the exercise program. Univariate linear regression indicated that each additional weekly exercise session was associated with a 3.156 mL greater reduction in epicardial adipose volume (R = 0.084).
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope of the exercise trial
These results come from the abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The findings are associations from one single-center pragmatic trial, not proof that exercise causes the changes. The session-frequency result rests on a weak correlation (R = 0.084). The abstract does not report adverse events, adherence beyond session counts, or whether the M-CSF difference was statistically significant. The authors describe regular supervised exercise as a non-pharmacological strategy; this is their interpretation, not personal advice.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Single-center pragmatic trial; findings are associations, not causation. The frequency result relies on a weak correlation (R = 0.084). Adverse events, adherence and statistical significance of the M-CSF difference are not reported in the abstract.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Xue X, Chen S, Cheng Y, Li Q, Ye Z, Li H, Huang F, Wang F. · europepmc.org · September 16, 2026