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Exercise training and vascular function in postmenopausal individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Áine Brislane1, Nicholas F Sculthorpe2, Margie H Davenport1
1From the Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
|July 26, 2022
Summary
Aerobic exercise training significantly improves flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in postmenopausal individuals. Improvements were greater in controlled studies, and linked to higher blood pressure and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Exercise Physiology
- Menopause Research
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health concern for menopausal individuals.
- Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a key indicator of vascular health and a surrogate marker for CVD.
- The impact of exercise on FMD in this population requires systematic evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the effect of exercise training on FMD in postmenopausal women.
- To quantify the pooled effect size of exercise interventions on FMD.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library databases.
- Inclusion of healthy postmenopausal individuals undergoing aerobic exercise interventions assessing FMD.
- Random-effects meta-analysis and metaregression to analyze data and identify predictors of FMD change.
Main Results:
- Nine studies (11 interventions, N=182) were included in the meta-analysis.
- Aerobic exercise training significantly improved FMD (mean difference [MD], 0.99; 95% CI, 0.46-1.52; P < 0.001).
- Diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, and change in maximal oxygen uptake (∆V˙o2max) significantly predicted FMD improvement (R²=0.72).
Conclusions:
- Aerobic exercise training enhances FMD in postmenopausal individuals.
- The positive effect on FMD was more pronounced in controlled versus pre-post intervention studies.
- Higher resting blood pressure and greater cardiorespiratory fitness gains correlate with larger FMD improvements.
