The Effects of Menopause and Training on Serum Lipids*

Abstract

Forty women were studied to determine the effect of training and menopause on serum levels of total cholesterol (Tc), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and the ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C. Subjects were assigned to one of four groups: (a) premenopausal trained runners (Pre-T) (25-75 miles per week) (V̇O₂max 44.82 ml/kg^-1·min^-1) (N = 10); (b) premenopausal untrained who took part in no regular aerobic exercise (Pre-UT) (V̇O₂max 28.60 ml/kg^-1·min^-1) (N = 10); (c) postmenopausal trained runners (Post-T) (25-65 miles per week) (V̇O₂max 40.25 ml/kg^-1·min^-1) (N = 10); (d) postmenopausal untrained who took part in no regular aerobic exercise (Post-UT) (V̇O₂max 21.50 ml/kg^-1·min^-1) (N = 10). None of the women smoked, were taking oral contraceptives, or any form of hormonal replacement. The postmenopausal women had all undergone natural menopause. Analysis of variance indicated: (a) no significant differences between Pre-T and Pre-UT in measures of Tc (188.04 mg/dl; 206.46 mg/dl) and HDL-C (73.2 mg/dl; 62.10 mg/dl) (P > 0.05) and a significant difference between Pre-T and Pre-UT in LDL-C (114.57 mg/dl; 144.57 mg/dl) and HDL-C/LDL-C (0.66; 0.44) (P < 0.05); (b) no significant differences between Pre-T and Post-T for Tc, HDL-C, LDL-C, and HDL-C/LDL-C (P > 0.05); (c) significant differences between Pre-UT and Post-UT in Tc (206.46 mg/dl; 241.15 mg/dl), LDL-C (144.36 mg/dl; 184.85 mg/dl), and HDL-C/LDL-C (0.44; 0.32) (P < 0.05), and no significant difference between these groups in HDL-C (P > 0.05); (d) no significant difference between Post-T and Post-UT in Tc (P > 0.05) and significant differences between these groups in measures of HDL-C (74.14 mg/dl; 55.54 mg/dl); LDL-C (141.45 mg/dl; 185.85 mg/dl), and HDL-C/LDL-C (0.57; 0.32) (P < 0.05). It was concluded that training prior to menopause had a positive effect on LDL-C levels and the HDL-C/LDL-C ratio. This positive effect continued with training following menopause and in addition HDL-C levels were also elevated. It was further suggested that menopause causes adverse changes in serum lipid levels that may be offset, at least in part, by endurance training.

training - menopause - serum lipids