Physical Activity, Fibrinogen Plasma Level and Gene Polymorphisms in Postmenopausal Women

Summary

The relations between habitual physical activity (PA), fibrinogen gene polymorphisms and plasma fibrinogen were investigated in 191 postmenopausal women. Subjects who reported PA at least 4 times/ week had lower fibrinogen level (3.19 g/1; 95% Cl 3.10; 3.27) than women reporting PA 2-3 times/week (3.43 g/1; 3.29; 3.58) or sedentary subjects (3.64 g/1; 3.33; 3.94). There were no differences in plasma fibrinogen across the α-fibrinogen (Rsal, TaqI) or (β-fibrinogen (Mnll, Bell, Hindlll) genotypes, the frequencies of which were in a Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium. An interaction between Rsal, which was in complete linkage disequilibrium with TaqI, and PA on plasma fibrinogen was observed, even after adjustments for BMI, smoking and medication (p = 0.024). Among women homozygous for the common Rsal allele, the physically most active had lower fibrinogen level (p <0.001) compared to the physically less active subjects. These results suggest that, in postmenopausal women, the relation between physical activity and plasma fibrinogen is modulated by genetic variation in the α-fibrinogen gene.

• References

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