We review the effects of acute and long-term physical activity on adipokine levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Three electronic databases were searched. Studies made in animal models were excluded, while studies based on participants with and without T2D, and also studies with type 1 diabetes were included. Of the 2,450 citations, 63 trials, including randomised control trials, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, met our inclusion criteria. Seventy and five percent of studies reported the effects of physical activity on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL-6), adiponectin, visfatin, omentin-1, and leptin levels. There are no robust results due to variations in exercise modality, intensity, duration, and also differences in cohort characteristics in the literature. Only four studies described the effects of an acute session of physical activity on adipokine levels. Overall, physical activity improves diabetes status by regulating adipokine levels. However, long-term aerobic + resistance training combined with dietary modifications is likely to be a more effective strategy for improving adipokines profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes.
