Physical activity, body fat, and serum C-reactive protein in postmenopausal women with and without hormone replacement.

The objective was to determine whether higher physical activity is associated with lower serum C-reactive protein (CRP), independent of oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT) status and body fatness, in 133 postmenopausal women using a cross-sectional exploratory design at a university research laboratory. The subjects were 133 postmenopausal women, age 50-73 years, with no evidence of coronary artery disease or diabetes. The main outcome measures were: serum CRP, physical activity as measured by Stanford 7-day activity recall, body fat (both total and regional) as measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and anthropometry (waist and hip circumference). Secondary outcome measures included fasting plasma glucose and insulin as well as fasting serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Higher physical activity energy expenditures were significantly associated with lower serum CRP levels (r = -0.18, P = 0.041), independent of oral HRT use, age, smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, aspirin use, and statin use. However, in the complete multivariate model, which included body fat, older ages (P = 0.047), greater trunk fat masses (P < 0.001), any oral HRT use (P < 0.001), and unopposed oral estrogen use (P = 0.012) were the sole independent predictors of higher serum CRP levels. The complete multivariate model accounted for 58% of the variance in serum CRP. We conclude that the association between higher physical activity and lower serum CRP levels is dependent on the lower body fat of the more active women, yet independent of oral HRT use. Future intervention trials should determine whether diet- and exercise-related reductions in body fat may be effective ways to diminish the proinflammatory effects of oral HRT in postmenopausal women.

Manns PJ ，Williams DP ，Snow CM ，Wander RC ... -  《AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY》

Physical activity is associated with risk factors for chronic disease across adult women's life cycle.

Woolf K ，Reese CE ，Mason MP ，Beaird LC ，Tudor-Locke C ，Vaughan LA ... -  《journal of the american dietetic association》

Influence of habitual physical activity on body composition, fat distribution and metabolic variables in early postmenopausal women receiving hormonal therapy.

To determine whether there is an association between the level of habitual physical activity, body composition and anthropometric and metabolic variables in postmenopausal patients before and after hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Thirty-four healthy, recent postmenopausal women (50+/-2.7 years; 23.8+/-10 months since menopause) consulting for symptoms of estrogen deficiency were included in the study. Anthropometric assessment, percent of body fat (BF) estimated by skinfold measures, and metabolic evaluation were performed before and 4 months after the start of HRT, which included non-oral or low-dose oral preparations. The status of physical activity was defined by counting steps with a pedometer. Patients were stratified as active (6000 steps ore more per day) or inactive (fewer than 6000 steps per day). Results are expressed as mean+/-SD or median and interquartile range. log 10 transformation was used to normalize the distribution of non-Gaussian variables. ANOVA for repeated measures was performed for the active and inactive groups, before and after HT. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between anthropometric and metabolic variables and habitual physical activity. BMI and BF did not change with HRT in comparison with baseline. In contrast, a decline was observed in waist circumference (WC) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) after HRT in both active and inactive women (P<0.01). While triglycerides and glucose did not change after HRT, total and LDL-cholesterol decreased from baseline. In contrast, after HRT, active patients were found to have lower BF than inactive women (active: 25.4+/-2.5; inactive: 26.6+/-2, P=0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between habitual physical activity (number of steps per day) and BF (r=-0.36, P=0.04). After HRT, when only active patients were considered, a significant negative correlation was found between the number of steps and WC (r=-0.42, P=0.04) and WHR (r= -0.58, P=0.03). Habitual physical activity plays a major role in preserving a favorable cardiovascular profile in postmenopausal patients using HRT.

Lara S ，Casanova G ，Spritzer PM 《-》

Fat distribution and insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women: influence of hormone replacement.

Munoz J ，Derstine A ，Gower BA 《-》

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activities in hispanic and anglo postmenopausal women: associations with total and regional body fat.

Reverse cholesterol transport is one process by which high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has been hypothesized to play a role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. This study was designed to examine cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activities, 2 modulators of reverse cholesterol transport, in Hispanic and Anglo postmenopausal women. The associations between plasma CETP and LCAT activities and body composition were also examined. Of the 199 subjects, 33% were of Hispanic origin and 47% were undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and anthropometry. Plasma CETP activity was higher in Hispanic compared to Anglo women, although the difference was eliminated when data were adjusted for abdominal fat. Hispanic women had lower plasma HDL cholesterol concentrations, higher total cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratios and triglyceride concentrations, and greater susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles to oxidation. Hispanic women also had a significantly greater relative deposition of body fat on the trunk and intra-abdominally than did Anglo women, even after adjusting for total body fat. There were no significant ethnic differences in LCAT activity. Plasma CETP and LCAT activities were negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol and positively correlated with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as total and regional body composition variables. In conclusion, results suggest a greater risk for coronary heart disease in Hispanic women compared to Anglo women.

Greaves KA ，Going SB ，Fernandez ML ，Milliken LA ，Lohman TG ，Bassford T ，McNamara DJ ... -  《METABOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL》