Impact of walking on adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity and expression in pre- and postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine regional variation in adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (AT-LPL) activity and expression in pre-and postmenopausal women, before and after training, once differences in chronological age or obesity degree are taken into account.


METHODS
Sixteen late pre- and 14 early postmenopausal (49 +/- 2 vs. 52 +/- 2 years; p < 0.001) moderately obese women (body mass index 29-35 kg/m(2)) were subjected to a 16-week walking program (3 sessions/week of 45 min at 60% heart rate reserve). Abdominal and femoral AT-LPL activity and expression, fasting lipid-lipoprotein profile, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were measured before and after our intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using covariance analysis for age differences.


RESULTS
AT-LPL activity and expression, lipid-lipoprotein metabolism, body fatness, and CRF were similar at baseline, irrespective of the group considered. Slight reductions in plasma cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, fat mass and waist girth reductions, CRF increases as well as femoral AT-LPL activity and expression decreases after our intervention were comparable, regardless of menopausal status (0.0001 < p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Lipid storage is decreased in the femoral depot after walking, regardless of menopausal status. Reduction in AT-LPL activity or expression does not lead to a more deleterious lipid-lipoprotein profile, despite the modest decrease noted in HDL cholesterol concentrations.
Tessier
Sebastien
S
Division of Kinesiology, Laval University, Québec City, QC, Canada.
Riesco
Eléonor
E
Lacaille
Michel
M
Pérusse
Francine
F
Weisnagel
John
J
Doré
Jean
J
Mauriège
Pascale
P
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000201:enzymology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000201:enzymology; D013848:Thigh; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase