A dietary and exercise intervention slows menopause-associated progression of subclinical atherosclerosis as measured by intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries.
OBJECTIVE
The object of this study was to assess the effects of menopause and a diet/exercise intervention on subclinical atherosclerosis progression.


BACKGROUND
Subclinical atherosclerosis has been linked to higher coronary heart disease and stroke rates and is greater among postmenopausal women according to cross-sectional analyses. Whether menopause is associated with an accelerated progression of subclinical disease is unknown, as is the extent to which lifestyle intervention can alter the course of progression.


METHODS
Intima-media thickness (IMT) measures of the common carotid artery (CCA), internal carotid artery (ICA), and bulb segments of the carotid arteries were measured twice during the course of 4 years in 353 women from the Women's Healthy Lifestyle Project, a dietary and exercise clinical trial designed to prevent adverse risk factor changes through the menopause. A third measure was obtained 2.5 years later for 113 women.


RESULTS
The progression of IMT was observed for the average of all segments (AVG), the CCA, and the bulb (0.007 mm/year, 0.008 mm/year, and 0.012 mm/year; p < 0.01 for all), but not for the ICA. Among controls, menopause was associated with accelerated IMT progression (0.003 mm/year for premenopausal women vs. 0.008 mm/year for perimenopausal/postmenopausal women for AVG IMT; p = 0.049). Additionally, among the 160 perimenopausal/postmenopausal women, the intervention slowed IMT progression (0.008 mm/year for the control group vs. 0.004 mm/year for the intervention group for AVG IMT; p = 0.02). Similar results were found for the CCA and bulb segments.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that the menopause transition is associated with accelerated subclinical atherosclerosis progression and that a diet/exercise intervention slows menopause-related atherosclerosis progression.
Wildman
Rachel P
RP
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Schott
Laura L
LL
Brockwell
Sarah
S
Kuller
Lewis H
LH
Sutton-Tyrrell
Kim
K
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000628:therapy; D002979:Climacteric; D018450:Disease Progression; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016387:Women's Health
D015415:Biomarkers