The relationship between physical activity and lipoprotein subclasses in postmenopausal women: the influence of hormone therapy.
OBJECTIVE
This study's objective was to determine if the association between physical activity and lipids and lipoprotein subclasses in postmenopausal women varies by hormone therapy (HT) use.


METHODS
The cross-sectional relationship between physical activity and lipid and lipoprotein subclass relationship was examined before group randomization in 485 postmenopausal (mean age 56.9 [2.9] y) white and African American women from the Woman On the Move through Activity and Nutrition study. This study is a randomized clinical trial designed to test whether a lifestyle intervention will reduce subclinical cardiovascular disease measures.


RESULTS
Hormone therapy users (n = 286) were significantly (P < 0.05) younger, less likely to be African American, reported higher levels of physical activity, large very low-density lipoprotein particles (VLDL-P), and medium high-density lipoprotein particles (HDL-P), had a larger mean HDL-P size, and lower levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, small HDL-P, and small VLDL-P than nonusers (n = 196). Physical activity was significantly associated with favorable lipoprotein and lipid levels, regardless of HT use. Some relationships were found to vary significantly by HT use. In nonusers, mean HDL-P and LDL particles (LDL-P) size was significantly larger (P = 0.01 and 0.05, respectively) and total and small LDL-P were significantly lower (both P = 0.02) as activity increased. These relationship were not found in HT users.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical activity was significantly related to some lipoprotein subclasses regardless of HT; however, several key lipoprotein subclasses were associated with higher levels of activity only among non-HT users.
Pettee
Kelley K
KK
Department of Epidemiology, Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. kelley.pettee@asu.edu
Kriska
Andrea M
AM
Johnson
B Delia
BD
Conroy
Molly B
MB
Mackey
Rachel H
RH
Orchard
Trevor J
TJ
Kuller
Lewis H
LH
D015992:Body Mass Index; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*
D008074:Lipoproteins