Moderate exercise training and low-energy diets are associated with small changes in indices of platelet aggregation and blood coagulation in overweight women

Because starvation or exhaustive exercise can significantly modify indices of platelet aggregation and blood coagulation, we investigated whether exercise training and energy restriction for weight-loss diets could also affect these indices. Ten healthy overweight women participated in an exercise program that gave an energy deficit of 15% for 98 days. Five women also ate 50% less food, giving them an overall energy deficit of 65%. Their diet contained > 100% of the recommended dietary allowance of all nutrients except energy. There were significant differences with time on the study (possibly caused by exercise training) for red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts as well as activated partial thromboplastin times (APTT) and platelet aggregation induced by collagen. Prothrombin time (PT) showed significant differences between groups, presumably caused by differences in energy intake. However, the changes caused by moderate exercise training and energy restriction diets are mild and probably have little physiological significance.