Effects of endurance exercise and hormone replacement therapy on serum lipids in older women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of 11 months of exercise training and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), alone or in combination, on serum lipids and lipoproteins, in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Controlled, prospective, 11-month clinical trial. Healthy postmenopausal women (n = 71, age range 60-72 yrs) were assigned to four groups in a 2 X 2 design (control, exercise, HRT, exercise + HRT).


METHODS
Large, midwestern urban community; subjects were recruited from the community-at-large. The exercise program was conducted at a university exercise facility.


METHODS
HRT consisted of conjugated estrogens at 0.625 mg/day and trimonthly medroxyprogesterone acetate 5 mg/day for 13 days. Exercise consisted of 2 months of low intensity exercise followed by 9 months of vigorous exercise for 45 min/day, 3 or more days/week, at 65-85% of maximal heart rate.


METHODS
Maximal aerobic power (VO2max), resting blood pressure, body composition, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and dietary intake at baseline and after 11 months.


RESULTS
At the end of 11 months, subjects in the exercise group had decrease total cholesterol (TC; P < .01) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C; P < .05), but there was no change in HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) or triglycerides. Women in the HRT group had decreased LDL-C (P < .001) and increased HDL-C (P < .01) and triglycerides (P < .01), but there was no change in TC. Exercise + HRT subjects had decreased TC (P < .05) and LDL-C (P < .001), and increased HDL-C (P < .001); exercise prevented the HRT-related increase in triglycerides.


CONCLUSIONS
Endurance exercise training and HRT have independent and complimentary effects on serum lipids profiles in healthy postmenopausal women. Such effects are likely to reduce the risk of cardiovascular morbidity in this population.
Binder
E F
EF
Washington University School of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Geerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Birge
S J
SJ
Kohrt
W M
WM
D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate