title: Even low physical activity levels improve vascular function in overweight and obese postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some individuals with cardiovascular risk are unable to achieve even the lower internationally recommended level of physical activity (PA). We aimed to study the impact of a lower-than-advised level of PA on small artery vascular function and oxidative stress in overweight and obese postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven overweight and obese postmenopausal women completed a 4-month program of 1-hour low-intensity PA for 2 days per week. Before and after the intervention, PA level (metabolic equivalent tasks/h/wk), endogenous antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase and erythrocyte lysate and glutathione peroxidase erythrocyte lysate concentrations, superoxide dismutase plasma and glutathione peroxidase plasma [GPXa] activities, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein), asymmetrical dimethylarginine concentrations, endothelial function by small artery reactive hyperemia index (saRHI), and resting heart rate (RHR) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the intervention, a significant increase in GPXa and decreases in asymmetrical dimethylarginine concentrations and RHR (P < 0.001 for all) were observed. Increases in PA were positively associated with increases in saRHI (r = 0.330, P = 0.027) and GPXa (r = 0.299, P = 0.05) and a decrease in RHR (r = -0.297, P = 0.047). Multivariate analyses showed that the independent predictors of saRHI improvement were an increase in PA (β = 2.63; 95% CI, 1.24-4.19; P = 0.019), a decrease in RHR (β = 1.96; 95% CI, 1.01-5.03; P = 0.048), and an increase in GPXa (β = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.18-5.08; P = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even low-intensity PA improves antioxidant capacity, RHR, and saRHI in postmenopausal women. Advising postmenopausal women to increase their PA at any level seems warranted based on our preliminary and hypothesis-generating data.
authors.affiliation: From the 1 Vascular Medicine and Metabolism Unit and Research Unit on Lipids and Atherosclerosis, Sant Joan University Hospital, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Rovira i Virgili University, Reus, Spain; 2Spanish Biomedical Research Network in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain; 3Reus Esport i Lleure, Ajuntament de Reus, Spain; 4Atención Primaria, Institut Català de la Salut, Tarragona, Spain; and 5Institut d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: Raimon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferré
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Girona
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aguas
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabré
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Plana
authors.forename: Angels
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vinuesa
authors.forename: Daiana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ibarretxe
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Basora
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buixadera
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masana
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase