Habitual Combined Exercise Protects against Age-Associated Decline in Vascular Function and Lipid Profiles in Elderly Postmenopausal Women

Figures

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  Figure 1. Study subject eligibility, screening, and allocation.

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  Figure 2. Differences in brachial-to-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and blood pressure (BP) between the combined resistance and aerobic exercise training (CRAE) and the sedentary (SED) groups. (A) The CRAE group had significantly lower baPWV (m/s) compared to the SED group (12.8 ± 1.8 vs. 12.1 ± 2.0 m/s, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.041) (B) The CRAE group had significantly lower systolic BP (SBP) compared to the SED group (137.0 ± 33.0 vs. 120.0 ± 15.0 mmHg, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.03). There were no differences in diastolic BP (DBP) between groups (68.0 ± 15.0 vs. 67.7 ± 10.0 mmHg, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.12). Values are Mean ± SD. * p < 0.05 vs. SED.

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  Figure 3. Differences in blood lipids including very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) between the combined resistance and aerobic exercise training (CRAE) and sedentary (SED) groups. LDL was significantly lower in the CRAE group compared to the SED group (110.9 ± 27.7 vs. 94.9 ± 23.5 mg/dL, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.023). There were no differences in VLDL (35.1 ± 12.2 vs. 35.4 ± 16.6 mg/dL, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.37), HDL (48.3 ± 9.8 vs. 47.9 ± 11.7 mg/dL, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.44), TG (173.0 ± 61.9 vs. 176.9 ± 80.4 mg/dL, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.39), or TC (284.6 ± 112.5 vs. 287.3 ± 116.9 mg/dL, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.47). Values are Mean ± SD. * p < 0.05 vs. SED.

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  Figure 4. Differences in resting metabolic rate (RMR) between the combined resistance and aerobic exercise training (CRAE) and the sedentary (SED) groups. The CRAE group had significantly greater RMR in kilocalories per day (kcal/d) compared to the SED group (1258 ± 176 vs. 1338 ± 182 kcal/d, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.038). Values are Mean ± SD. * p < 0.05 vs. SED.

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  Figure 5. Differences in walking capacity and muscular strength between the combined resistance and aerobic exercise training (CRAE) and sedentary (SED) groups. (A) The CRAE group had a significantly greater 2-min walking distance (m) compared to the SED group 66.4 ± 6.1 vs. 82.2 ± 5.7 m, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.022) (B) The CRAE group had significantly greater single-leg extension quadriceps strength (kg) compared to the SED group (9.6 ± 2.0 vs. 12.2 ± 2.0 kg, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.029) (C) The CRAE group had significantly greater two-arm curl biceps strength (kg) compared to the SED group (9.8 ± 2.0 vs. 11.5 ± 2.0 kg, SED vs. CRAE, respectively; p = 0.046). Values are Mean ± SD. * p < 0.05 vs. SED.