Exercise interventions for smoking cessation

Abstract

Background Taking regular exercise may help people give up smoking by moderating nicotine withdrawal and cravings, and by helping to manage weight gain. Objectives To determine whether exercise-based interventions alone, or combined with a smoking cessation programme, are more effective than a smoking cessation intervention alone. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group Specialized Register in April 2014, and searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL Plus in May 2014. Selection criteria We included randomized trials which compared an exercise programme alone, or an exercise programme as an adjunct to a cessation programme, with a cessation programme (which we considered the control in this review). Studies were required to recruit smokers or recent quitters and have a follow-up of six months or more. Studies that did not meet the full inclusion criteria because they only assessed the acute effects of exercise on smoking behaviour, or because the outcome was smoking reduction, are summarised but not formally included. Data collection and analysis We extracted data on study characteristics and smoking outcomes. Because of differences between studies in the characteristics of the interventions used we summarized the results narratively, making no attempt at meta-analysis. We assessed risk of selection and attrition bias using standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. Main results We identified 20 trials with a total of 5,870 participants. The largest study was an internet trial with 2,318 participants, and eight trials had fewer than 30 people in each treatment arm. Studies varied in the timing and intensity of the smoking cessation and exercise programmes offered. Only one included study was judged to be at low risk of bias across all domains assessed. Four studies showed significantly higher abstinence rates in a physically active group versus a control group at end of treatment. One of these studies also showed a significant benefit for exercise versus control on abstinence at the three-month follow-up and a benefit for exercise of 1 Exercise interventions for smoking cessation (Review)

The addicted brain craves new neurons: putative role for adult-born progenitors in promoting recovery

“…The impact of voluntary exercise on abstinence from drug use has been studied in humans with regard to nicotine [101–103] and alcohol [104] addiction, with some of these studies indicating a beneficial effect. With regard to animal models of addiction, only a few studies have assessed whether exercise after the cessation of drug use can reduce the reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior [61–63].…”

Reciprocal inhibitory effects of intravenous d-methamphetamine self-administration and wheel activity in rats

“…Although efforts to determine if exercise has beneficial effects in smoking-cessation programs have been mixed (see (Ussher et al, 2008) for review) one of the largest randomized controlled trials found beneficial effects up to 12 months after treatment (Marcus et al, 1999). Additionally, habitual exercisers that meet diagnostic criteria for exercise dependence smoked less than non-dependent exercisers (Lejoyeux et al, 2008).…”

“…Thus, the observed suppressive effects of wheel access on cocaine self-administration (Cosgrove et al, 2002; Smith et al, 2008; Smith et al, 2011) may depend on increasing the relative reward value of wheel activity over its value in wheel-naïve animals. This has implications for the use of exercise in drug-use cessation trials and perhaps may explain variability in outcome across trials (Ussher et al, 2008). …”

Exercise and Cardiovascular Diseases

“…The effect of ET on HDL cholesterol is modest and it is modulated by genetic factors [12]. As regards of smoke, only 1 out of 15 trials documented an effect of ET on smoking cessation [13], therefore it has only a complementary role in tobacco cessation programs.…”