This study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week combined aerobic–resistance training program on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and oxidative DNA repair markers in middle-aged women.
A total of 48 sedentary women aged 40–55 years were randomly assigned to either an exercise group (n = 24) or a non-exercising control group (n = 24). The intervention group completed supervised training sessions three times per week, consisting of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity treadmill walking (60–70% HRmax) followed by 30 minutes of resistance training at 65% of one-repetition maximum across eight major muscle groups. Blood samples were collected at baseline and post-intervention. LTL was quantified using quantitative PCR, while 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-1 (APE1) were measured as indicators of oxidative DNA damage and repair capacity, respectively.
After 8 weeks, the exercise group demonstrated a significant increase in relative LTL (p < 0.01) compared with controls, who showed no meaningful change. Levels of 8-OHdG decreased significantly in the exercise group (p < 0.001), while APE1 concentrations increased (p < 0.01), indicating enhanced oxidative DNA repair. No significant alterations were observed in the control group for any variable. Effect sizes ranged from moderate to large, suggesting robust physiological adaptation.
These findings indicate that combined aerobic–resistance training is an effective lifestyle intervention for promoting telomere maintenance and strengthening oxidative DNA repair mechanisms in middle-aged women. Integrating structured exercise programs into preventative health strategies may contribute to delaying cellular aging and improving long-term genomic health.