title: Exercise-induced vasodilation is associated with menopause stage in healthy middle-aged women.
abstract: Leg exercise hemodynamics during single-leg knee extensions were compared among healthy groups of early perimenopausal (n = 15), late perimenopausal (n = 12), and early postmenopausal (n = 11) women. Femoral blood flow (FBF) and vascular conductance (FVC) at rest and during very light work rates (0 and 5 W) were similar among all three menopause stage groups. Vascular responses at 10 W (FBF) and 20 W (FBF and FVC) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in early perimenopausal compared with late perimenopausal women. At 15 and 25 W, FBF and FVC were similar between late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal groups but higher (P < 0.05) in early perimenopausal women as compared with the other two menopausal groups. In the combined sample of all three menopause stage groups, follicle-stimulating hormone was significantly correlated with vascular conductance during submaximal (15 W) exercise (R = -0.56, P < 0.001), even after adjustment for age, fitness, LDL cholesterol, and abdominal fat (R = -0.46, P = 0.005). Collectively, these findings suggest that in middle-aged women, there is an association between menopause stage and leg vascular responsiveness during exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Joaquin U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Steriani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elavsky
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Proctor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000097:blood; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone