Resistance training improves isokinetic strength and metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes in postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of resistance training (RT) on metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes in postmenopausal women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two postmenopausal women (65.0±4.2 years) underwent 12 weeks of whole body progressive training with intensity prescribed based on rating of perceived exertion. Dominant knee extension strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer before and after the intervention. Moreover, all volunteers had blood samples collected for lipid profile, glycemic control, and C-reactive protein analyses. Waist circumference and arterial blood pressure were also measured at baseline and after the training period. Student's t-tests for paired samples and repeated measures ANOVA were used to compare dependent variables, and statistical significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: Isokinetic muscle strength significantly increased (P<0.01) with training. It was observed that waist circumference as well as total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly decreased with training (P<0.01). Total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, an important marker of cardiovascular disease incidence, was also significantly reduced (from 3.91±0.91 to 3.60±0.74; P<0.01) after the program. Blood glucose, basal insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were also significantly reduced (P<0.01). No significant alterations were observed for resting blood pressure, triglycerides, or C-reactive protein. CONCLUSION: Based on the observed results, it can be concluded that a 12-week progressive RT program, besides increasing isokinetic muscle strength, induces beneficial alterations on metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes in postmenopausal women. These findings highlight this mode of exercise as an important component of public health promotion programs for aged women. RT improves isokinetic strength and metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes in postmenopausal women.

Strength, muscle quality and markers of cardiometabolic risk in older women / Força, qualidade muscular e marcadores de risco cardiometabólico em mulheres idosas

Abstract The aging process is associated with a decline in physiological functions, including a reduction in muscle quality, as well as changes in cardiometabolic risk factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify if a correlation exists between muscle strength and quality and cardiometabolic risk markers in older women. Thirty older women (66.13±5.26 years, 67.33±12.45 kg, 1.54±0.07 m, body mass index: 28.20±4.72) were submitted to the evaluation of muscle thickness and strength and blood analysis of cardiometabolic risk markers (glucose, basal insulin, C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and HOMA-IR). No significant correlations were found between muscle phenotypes and markers of cardiometabolic risk, even after adjustment for confounding factors. The present study indicates that muscle strength or quality is not correlated with markers of cardiometabolic risk.

Resumo O processo de envelhecimento está associado a um declínio nas funções fisiológicas, refletindo em reduções na qualidade muscular, bem como em alterações de marcadores de risco cardiometabólico. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do estudo foi verificar a associação entre qualidade muscular e marcadores de risco cardiometabólico em mulheres idosas. Trinta mulheres idosas (66,13±5,26 anos, 67,33±12,45 kg, 1,54±0,07 m, 28,20±4,72 IMC) foram submetidas à avaliação da espessura e força musculares do quadríceps, e à análise sanguínea de marcadores de risco cardiometabólico (glicemia, insulina basal, proteína C-reativa, colesterol total, HDL-colesterol, LDL-colesterol, VLDL-colesterol, triglicerídeos, e índice HOMA-IR). Não foram encontradas correlações significativas entre os fenótipos musculares e os marcadores de risco cardiometabólico estudados, mesmo com controle para fatores de confusão. A presente pesquisa indica não haver correlação entre força e qualidade muscular com os marcadores de risco cardiometabólico estudados.