Background and purpose: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide that account for 82% of all deaths in developing countries. miRNA-93 (miR-93), ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), and serum leptin levels may be involved in the process of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of combined exercise on miR-93, reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and serum leptin levels in patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Materials and methods: A total of 20 middle-aged men (aged 50 to 60 years) were randomly assigned into two groups after CABG: experimental (n=10) and control (n=10). Combined exercise (aerobic + resistance) was done three times a week (55-60 min per session/8 weeks). mir-93, ABCA1 and serum leptin levels were measured before and after the intervention. Paired t-test was used to evaluate within group changes and analysis of covariance was used to study the differences between the groups. Results: Combined training led to a significant decrease in mir-93 (P=0.000) and a significant increase in the expression of ABCA1 (P=0.001) in experimental group compared with the control group. Serum leptin levels decreased significantly in experimental group (P=0.000) but they were not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.094). Conclusion: It seems that combined exercise by increasing ABCA1and decreasing mir-93 and leptin levels can help in prevention and control of CAD as well as speeding up the healing process in CABG patients.

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