Regular exercise, hormone replacement therapy and the age-related decline in carotid arterial compliance in healthy women

Objective: Carotid arterial compliance is reduced with age in sedentary estrogen-deficient women, contributing to the development of cardiovascular disorders. We determined the effects of regular aerobic exercise, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and their interaction on carotid arterial compliance using a combination of cross-sectional and intervention Study designs. Methods: Cross-sectionally, we studied three groups of healthy postmenopausal women (50-80 years): 20 sedentary not taking HRT; 24 sedentary taking HRT; and 14 endurance-trained not taking JHRT; and 11 sedentary premenopausal controls (20-37 years). In the intervention study, 12 sedentary postmenopausal women (58+/-3 years) who were taking HRT Were Studied before and after participation in a 3-month aerobic exercise (walking) program. Carotid arterial compliance was measured via Simultaneous common carotid artery ultrasound imaging and applanation tonometry. Results: Cross-sectional study. Carotid arterial compliance was lower (P<0.001) in all three postmenopausal groups compared with premenopausal women. Among the postmenopausal groups, arterial compliance was 33-43% higher in the sedentary HRT and endurance-trained women than in their sedentary estrogen-deficient peers. Intervention study. Arterial compliance increased (P<0.05) by similar to40% to levels that were no longer different than premenopausal women. Conclusions: HRT use and regular aerobic exercise are associated with augmented carotid arterial compliance in healthy postmenopausal women. Model-ate, short-term aerobic exercise call restore carotid arterial compliance in previously sedentary postmenopausal Women taking HRT. (C) 2003 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.