Exercise Effect on Placental Components: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Physical exercise has been demonstrated a positive effect on many pregnancy outcomes. Placental components are important for exchanging oxygen and nutrients between mother and fetus. This study aimed to systematic review and meta-analysis whether physical exercise could induce a morphological adjustment on placenta components. We systematically searched PubMed database until October 30 th , 2014. We included randomized and non-randomized studies with control group, which aimed to investigate the effect of the physical exercise (water, aerobic and resistance) on placental components (placental weight and volume, villous volume and vascular volume, intervillous space and stem villi). Initially, we identified 222 articles, of which 9 articles were used for full text analysis. Finally, four articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-analysis demonstrated that exercise appeared to affect placental weight (95% CI, [4.25-7.75]). Apparently, physical exercise has a positive effect on placental components. However, this conclusion is based on a limited number of studies. Clearly, it stands the necessity of larger samples and better methodology quality.Keywords: placenta, chorionic villi, physical exertion, pregnancy. (95% IC, 39,73g [4,(66)(67)(68)(69)(70)(71)(72)(73)(74)80]), o volume placentário (IC 95%, 47,11 cm 3 [37,23]), o espaço interviloso (IC 95%, 16,76 cm 3 [12,68] [7,07]) e o tronco viloso (95% IC, 6,00 cm 3 [4,75] (IC del 95%, 39,73g [4,(66)(67)(68)(69)(70)(71)(72)(73)(74)80]), el volumen de la placenta (IC del 95%, 47,11 cm 3 [37,23]), el espacio intervelloso (IC del 95%, 16,76 cm 3 [12,68]), el volumen velloso (IC del 95%, 46,01 cm 3 [40,81]), el volumen vascular velloso (95 IC%,15,95 cm 3 [7,07]) y el tronco velloso (IC 95%,6,00 cm 3 [4,75] RESUMO O exercício físico tem demonstrado efeito positivo nos muitos desfechos da gravidez. Componentes da placenta são importantes para a troca de oxigênio e nutrientes entre mãe e feto. O objetivo deste estudo foi revisar de forma sistemática e realizar uma meta-análise para verificar se o exercício físico pode induzir um ajuste morfológico nos componentes da placenta. A pesquisa foi feita sistematicamente no banco de dados PubMed até 30 de outubro de 2014. Foram incluídos estudos randomizados e não-randomizados com grupo controle, que tiveram como objetivo investigar o efeito do exercício físico

Association of sedentary time and physical activity during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. The GESTAFIT Project

“…Currently, more studies are needed to explore which specific maternal factors, including sedentary behaviors and PA, could influence placental blood flow. However, several studies suggest that regular exercise during pregnancy increases placental growth and its ability to perfuse oxygen and nutrients to the fetus . These statements are consistent with our findings, in which oxygen saturation was better in women with greater low to moderate PA levels, perhaps because increasing PA has a similar effect on placental angiogenesis during early pregnancy.…”