What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Healthy untrained middle-age women (n=25). Intervention: Exercise training vs. Premenopausal women. Primary outcome: Maximal aerobic capacity (V˙O2max) and blood volume (p=<0.05).

What does this research mean for the field?

Exercise training for 12 weeks results in a 9% smaller increase in maximal aerobic capacity (V˙O2max) in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women, accompanied by altered left ventricular mechanics rather than a central cardiac limitation. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

May 22, 2020Open Access

The Menopause Alters Aerobic Adaptations to High-Intensity Interval Training

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Exercise training for 12 weeks resulted in a 9% smaller increase in maximal aerobic capacity (V˙O2max) in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women (P<0.05).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Exercise training for 12 weeks results in a 9% smaller increase in maximal aerobic capacity (V˙O2max) in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women, accompanied by altered left ventricular mechanics rather than a central cardiac limitation. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Key Result

Exercise training for 12 weeks resulted in a 9% smaller increase in maximal aerobic capacity (V˙O2max) in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women (P<0.05).

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=25)

Structured PICO

Does menopause alter aerobic adaptations and left ventricular mechanics in response to 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training in healthy untrained middle-age women?

Population

25 healthy untrained middle-age women (age 45-58 yr; 11 premenopausal, 14 postmenopausal)

Intervention

12 weeks of high-intensity interval training

Comparator

Premenopausal women compared to postmenopausal women

Outcome

Maximal aerobic capacity (V˙O2max) and left ventricular mechanicssurrogate

Postmenopausal women exhibit reduced aerobic adaptability to high-intensity interval training compared to premenopausal women, which may be driven by altered blood volume distribution rather than central cardiac limitations.

Main Result

p-value: p=<0.05

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Postmenopausal women have lower resting cardiac function than premenopausal women, but whether the menopause influences maximal cardiac output and hence exercise capacity is unclear. It is possible that premenopausal and postmenopausal women achieve similar improvements in maximal aerobic capacity (V˙O2max) and cardiac output with exercise training via different regional left ventricular muscle function ("LV mechanics"), as suggested by in vitro and animal studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the menopause on LV mechanics and adaptations to exercise training. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy untrained middle-age women (age, 45-58 yr; 11 premenopausal, 14 postmenopausal) completed 12 wk of exercise training. Before and after exercise training, (i) V˙O2max and blood volume were determined, and (ii) LV mechanics were assessed using echocardiography at rest and during two submaximal physiological tests - lower-body negative pressure and supine cycling. RESULTS: The increase in V˙O2max after exercise training was 9% smaller in postmenopausal than premenopausal women, concomitant with a smaller increase in blood volume (P 0.05) despite altered regional LV muscle function, as indicated by higher basal mechanics in premenopausal women during the physiological tests after exercise training (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings are the first to confirm altered LV mechanics in postmenopausal women. In addition, the reduced aerobic adaptability to exercise training in postmenopausal women does not appear to be a central cardiac limitation and may be due to altered blood volume distribution and lower peripheral adaptations.