Effect of Exercise Training on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers among Sedentary, but Metabolically Healthy Overweight or Obese Postmenopausal Women with Elevated Blood Pressure

Objective—To investigate the effect of exercise training on markers of the lipoprotein-lipid profile and inflammatory markers in postmenopausal overweight/obese women with a moderately elevated systolic blood pressure. Methods—A total of 267 women [mean body mass index (BMI) =32.0±5.7 kg/m2 and mean age=57.3±6.6 years] underwent a 6-month exercise intervention program. Exercise training was performed 3 to 4 times per week at a targeted heart rate corresponding to 50% of the maximal oxygen consumption. Results—Compared to baseline values, mean change in relative VO2 max (the primary endpoint) was of 1.18±2.25 mL/min*kg (p<0.0001), mean weight loss was of 1.4±3.3 kg (p<0.0001), mean reduction in waist circumference was of 2.4±6.9 cm (p<0.0001) and systolic blood pressure did not change significantly (−1.2±13.0 mmHg, NS). No changes were observed in markers of the lipoprotein-lipid profile. No changes were observed for plasma levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and adiponectin. Changes in VO2 max were negatively associated with changes in body weight (r=−0.26, p<0.0001) and waist circumference (r=−0.16, p=0.01), but not with changes in cardiometabolic risk markers. *Address for correspondence: Jean-Pierre Després, PhD, FAHA, Director of Research, Cardiology, Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de, Québec, Pavilion Marguerite-D’Youville, 4th Floor, 2725, chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, (QC) CANADA G1V 4G5, Tel: 418-656-4863 Fax: 418-656-4610, jean-pierre.despres@criucpq.ulaval.ca. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. NIH Public Access Author Manuscript Atherosclerosis. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 December 1. Published in final edited form as: Atherosclerosis. 2009 December ; 207(2): 530. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2009.05.009. N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript Conclusion—Although exercise training significantly increased cardiorespiratory fitness in these sedentary, but metabolically healthy obese/overweight women with a moderately elevated systolic blood pressure, no significant improvements were observed in their cardiometabolic risk profile.