Regular exercise, hormone replacement therapy and the age-related decline in carotid arterial compliance in healthy women.
OBJECTIVE
Carotid arterial compliance is reduced with age in sedentary estrogen-deficient women, contributing to the development of cardiovascular disorders. We determined the effects of regular aerobic exercise, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and their interaction on carotid arterial compliance using a combination of cross-sectional and intervention study designs.


METHODS
Cross-sectionally, we studied three groups of healthy postmenopausal women (50-80 years): 20 sedentary not taking HRT; 24 sedentary taking HRT; and 14 endurance-trained not taking HRT; and 11 sedentary premenopausal controls (20-37 years). In the intervention study, 12 sedentary postmenopausal women (58+/-3 years) who were taking HRT were studied before and after participation in a 3-month aerobic exercise (walking) program. Carotid arterial compliance was measured via simultaneous common carotid artery ultrasound imaging and applanation tonometry.


RESULTS
Cross-sectional study. Carotid arterial compliance was lower (P<0.001) in all three postmenopausal groups compared with premenopausal women. Among the postmenopausal groups, arterial compliance was 33-43% higher in the sedentary HRT and endurance-trained women than in their sedentary estrogen-deficient peers. Intervention study. Arterial compliance increased (P<0.05) by approximately 40% to levels that were no longer different than premenopausal women.


CONCLUSIONS
HRT use and regular aerobic exercise are associated with augmented carotid arterial compliance in healthy postmenopausal women. Moderate, short-term aerobic exercise can restore carotid arterial compliance in previously sedentary postmenopausal women taking HRT.
Moreau
Kerrie L
KL
Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, 354 UCB, University of Colorado at Boulder, 80309-0354, USA. moreauk@colorado.edu
Donato
Anthony J
AJ
Seals
Douglas R
DR
DeSouza
Christopher A
CA
Tanaka
Hirofumi
H
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003187:Compliance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology