Table 4 Summary of subgroup analysis results

Meta-analysis results by exercise period

HbA1c(%)

1190

0.001*

53.10%

-0.28(-0.38,-0.18)

0.001*

0.047*

≤ 3 months

474

0.765

0.00%

-0.19(-0.29,-0.08)

< 0.001*

3–12 months

590

< 0.001*

73.10%

-0.34(-0.50,-0.17)

< 0.001*

≥ 12 months

126

0.635

0.00%

-0.46(-0.68,-0.29)

< 0.001*

FBG(mmol/L)

1831

0.131

21.60%

-0.44(-0.53,-0.34)

< 0.001*

0.044*

≤ 3 months

619

0.073

37.20%

-0.39(-0.56,-0.22)

< 0.001*

3–12 months

1076

0.68

0.00%

-0.37(-0.47,-0.26)

< 0.001*

≥ 12 months

126

0.313

1.70%

-0.67(-0.88,-0.45)

< 0.001*

2hPG (mmol/L)

1092

< 0.001*

64.20%

-1.16(-1.48,-0.85)

< 0.001*

0.663

≤ 3 months

436

< 0.001*

69.50%

-1.31(-1.84,-0.78)

< 0.001*

3–12 months

530

0.007

57.10%

-1.06(-1.54,-0.58)

< 0.001*

≥ 12 months

126

0.166

47.90%

-0.98(-1.50,-0.46)

< 0.001*

TC (mmol/L)

370

0.623

0.00%

-0.31(-0.50,-0.11)

0.002*

0.24

≤ 3 months

94

0.855

0.00%

-0.22(-0.58,0.15)

0.238

3–12 months

150

0.491

0.00%

-0.17(-0.49,0.15)

0.289

≥ 12 months

126

0.757

0.00%

-0.55(-0.89,-0.21)

0.002*

TG (mmol/L)

370

0.045*

53.40%

-0.28(-0.50,-0.06)

0.012*

0.078

≤ 3 months

94

0.848

0.00%

-0.22(-0.49,0.05)

0.103

3–12 months

150

0.037*

69.70%

-0.07(-0.53,0.38)

0.759

≥ 12 months

126

0.375

0.00%

-0.56(-0.80,-0.31)

< 0.001*

HDL (mmol/L)

370

< 0.001*

85.60%

0.16(-0.04,0.35)

0.12

0.526

≤ 3 months

94

0.399

0.00%

0.07(-0.09,0.23)

0.424

3–12 months

150

0.167

44.10%

0.07(-0.08,0.21)

0.371

≥ 12 months

126

< 0.001*

94.90%

0.41(-0.17,0.98)

0.17

LDL (mmol/L)

370

0.052

52.00%

-0.18(-0.42,0.06)

0.144

0.525

≤ 3 months

94

0.755

0.00%

-0.15(-0.46,0.16)

0.339

3–12 months

150

0.106

55.50%

-0.02(-0.41,0.38)

0.942

≥ 12 months

126

0.074

68.70%

-0.41(-0.98,0.15)

0.152

Meta-analysis results by exercise frequency

HbA1c(%)

1190

0.001*

53.10%

-0.28(-0.38,-0.18)

< 0.001*

0.069

≤ 3 times/week

378

0.003*

72.50%

-0.47(-0.72,-0.2)

< 0.001*

> 3 times/week

812

0.064

34.20%

-0.21(-0.31,-0.11)

< 0.001*

FBG(mmol/L)

1831

0.131

21.60%

-0.44(-0.53,-0.34)

< 0.001*

0.296

≤ 3 times/week

666

0.346

10.70%

-0.51(-0.66,-0.35)

< 0.001*

> 3 times/week

1155

0.145

23.00%

-0.41(-0.52,-0.30)

< 0.001*

2hPG (mmol/L)

1092

< 0.001*

64.20%

-1.16(-1.48,-0.85)

< 0.001*

0.143

≤ 3 times/week

198

0.081

60.20%

-0.82(-1.28,-0.36)

< 0.001*

> 3 times/week

894

< 0.001*

65.40%

-1.27(-1.65,-0.88)

< 0.001*

TC (mmol/L)

370

0.623

0.00%

-0.31(-0.50,-0.11)

0.002*

0.494

≤ 3 times/week

198

0.524

0.00%

-0.36(-0.61,-0.12)

0.004*

> 3 times/week

172

0.429

0.00%

-0.22(-0.54,0.10)

0.181

TG (mmol/L)

370

0.045

53.40%

-0.28(0.50,-0.06)

0.012*

0.138

≤ 3 times/week

198

0.135

50.00%

-0.42(-0.67,-0.18)

0.001*

> 3 times/week

172

0.148

43.90%

-0.10(-0.44,0.24)

0.547

HDL (mmol/L)

370

< 0.001*

85.60%

0.16(-0.04,0.35)

0.12

0.102

≤ 3 Times/Week

198

< 0.001*

91.40%

0.34(-0.03,0.70)

0.068

> 3 Times/Week

172

0.711

0.00%

0.02(-0.08,0.13)

0.642

LDL (mmol/L)

370

0.052

52.00%

-0.18(-0.42,0.06)

0.144

0.043*

≤ 3 Times/Week

198

0.103

56.00%

-0.38(-0.70,-0.07)

0.018*

> 3 Times/Week

172

0.603

0.00%

-0.04(-0.22,0.31)

0.748

Meta-analysis results by single exercise session duration

HbA1c(%)

1190

0.001*

53.10%

-0.28(-0.38,-0.18)

< 0.001*

0.243

≤ 30 minutes

420

0.045

46.40%

-0.34(-0.52,-0.17)

< 0.001*

30–60 minutes

466

0.08

41.60%

-0.30(-0.43,-0.16)

< 0.001*

≥ 60 minutes

304

0.084

48.50%

-0.14(-0.32,0.05)

0.141

FBG(mmol/L)

1821

0.131

21.60%

-0.44(-0.53,-0.34)

< 0.001*

0.036*

≤ 30 minutes

790

0.976

0.00%

-0.33(-0.51,0.16)

< 0.001*

30–60 minutes

446

0.032*

50.80%

-0.57(-0.75,-0.40)

< 0.001*

≥ 60 minutes

615

0.474

0.00%

-0.31(-0.42,-0.19)

< 0.001*

2hPG (mmol/L)

1092

< 0.001*

64.20%

-1.164(-1.48,-0.85)

< 0.001*

0.017*

≤ 30 minutes

262

0.819

0.00%

-1.25(1.76,-0.75)

< 0.001*

30–60 minutes

466

< 0.001*

77.20%

-1.45,(-1.97,-0.93)

< 0.001*

≥ 60 minutes

364

0.124

40.10%

-0.57(-0.98,-0.16)

0.007*

TC (mmol/L)

370

0.623

0.00%

-0.31(-0.50,-0.11)

0.002*

0.505

30–60 minutes

226

0.629

0.00%

-0.35(-0.59,-0.12)

0.003*

≥ 60 minutes

114

0.331

9.50%

-0.20(-0.58,0.17)

0.29

TG (mmol/L)

370

0.045

53.40%

-0.28(0.50,-0.06)

0.012*

0.15

30–60 minutes

226

0.245

27.80%

-0.41(-0.61,-0.20)

< 0.001*

≥ 60 minutes

114

0.078

60.80%

-0.05(-0.49,0.38)

0.809

HDL (mmol/L)

370

< 0.001*

85.60%

0.16(-0.04,0.35)

0.12

0.207

30–60 minutes

226

< 0.001*

89.20%

-0.25(-0.07,0.57)

0.127

≥ 60 minutes

114

0.583

0.00%

0.03(-0.07,0.14)

0.547

LDL (mmol/L)

370

0.052

52.00%

-0.18(-0.42,0.06)

0.144

0.018*

30–60 minutes

226

0.19

37.10%

-0.36(-0.61,-0.10)

0.006*

≥ 60 minutes

114

0.659

0.00%

-0.11(-0.18,0.40)

0.461

Meta-analysis results by supervised status

HbA1c(%)

1190

0.001*

53.10%

-0.28(-0.38,-0.18)

< 0.001*

0.053

supervised

430

0.008*

65.50%

-0.17(-0.31,-0.03)

0.017*

unsupervised

760

0.043*

38.20%

-0.35(-0.48,-0.22)

< 0.001*

FBG(mmol/L)

1821

0.131

21.60%

-0.44(-0.53,-0.34)

< 0.001*

0.667

supervised

781

0.031*

49.60%

-0.43(-0.57.-0.28)

< 0.001*

unsupervised

1041

0.486

0.00%

-0.47(-0.59,-0.35)

< 0.001*

2hPG (mmol/L)

1092

< 0.001*

64.20%

-1.16(-1.48,-0.85)

< 0.001*

0.001*

supervised

490

0.032*

54.30%

-0.65(-0.99,-0.30)

< 0.001*

unsupervised

602

0.008*

50.30%

-1.52(-1.93,-1.11)

< 0.001*

Meta-analysis results for different types of TCEs

HbA1c(%)

1190

0.001*

53.10%

-0.28(-0.38,-0.18)

< 0.001*

0.003*

Yijinjing

84

0.354

0.00%

-0(-0.18,0.17)

0.971

Taiji

108

0.162

48.80%

-0.11(-0.74,0.52)

0.74

Baduanjin

200

0.003*

59.10%

-0.26(-0.38,-0.13)

< 0.001*

Shaolin Neigong

798

0.601

0.00%

-0.47(-0.65,-0.30)

< 0.001*

FBG(mmol/L)

1799

0.117

23.00%

-0.44(-0.53,-0.35)

< 0.001*

0.425

Yijinjing

144

0.344

6.20%

-0.32(-0.54,-0.10)

0.004

Taiji

369

0.873

0.00%

-0.57(-0.77,-0.36)

< 0.001*

Baduanjin

1086

0.244

17.90%

-0.41(-0.52,-0.30)

< 0.001*

Shaolin Neigong

200

0.053

47.80%

-0.44(-0.74,-0.13)

0.005*

2hPG (mmol/L)

1070

< 0.001*

65.60%

-1.18(-1.50,-0.86)

< 0.001*

< 0.001*

Yijinjing

144

0.812

0.00%

-0.56(-1.0,-0.11)

0.015*

Taiji

108

0.368

0.00%

-1.10(-1.55,-0.64)

< 0.001*

Baduanjin

618

0.008*

58.20%

-0.89(-1.25,-0.53)

< 0.001*

Shaolin Neigong

200

0.41

3.00%

-2.22(-2.70,-1.73)

< 0.001*

TC (mmol/L)

342

0.494

0.00%

-0.31(-0.50,-0.11)

0.003*

0.155

Yijinjing

84

0.47

0.00%

-0(-0.47,0.47)

0.991

Baduanjin

258

0.605

0.00%

-0.38(-0.60,-0.16)

0.001*

TG (mmol/L)

342

0.025*

61.10%

-0.28(-0.52,-0.03)

0.026*

0.012*

Yijinjing

84

0.269

18.20%

-0.42(0.60,-0.23)

0.485

Baduanjin

258

0.262

25.00%

0.14(-0.26,0.54)

< 0.001*

HDL (mmol/L)

342

< 0.001*

87.40%

-0.18(-0.03,0.40)

0.089

0.068

Yijinjing

84

< 0.001*

0.00%

-0.01(-0.13,0.12)

0.943

Baduanjin

258

0.768

89.10%

0.28(0.002,0.56)

0.048*

LDL (mmol/L)

342

0.029*

60%

-0.17(-0.45,0.11)

0.225

0.019*

Yijinjing

84

< 0.001*

89.10%

-0.20(-0.15,0.56)

0.265

Baduanjin

258

0.46

13.50%

-0.33(-0.60,-0.06)

0.016*