Effects of physical exercise on the lipid profile of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

During the climacteric period, the decline in ovarian hormones leads to changes in the lipid profile. Physical exercise is the main non-pharmacological recommendation for controlling lipid levels. However, the effects on the lipid profile in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women are incipient and inconclusive. In this context, we searched the Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for randomized clinical trials on the effects of exercise on the lipid profile of these women. We excluded studies that did not specify criteria for classifying the climacteric phase, that involved women undergoing hormone replacement therapy, or that examined combined treatments or acute effects of physical exercise. The meta-analysis indicated that general physical exercise increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (mean difference [MD]=4.89; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]=0.97 to 8.81) in perimenopausal women. For obese postmenopausal women, 16 weeks of aerobic training increased HDL-C levels (MD=3.88; 95%CI=0.56 to 7.20) and reduced total cholesterol (MD=-22.36; 95%CI=-29.67 to -15.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (MD=-17.86; 95%CI=-25.97 to -9.75), whereas 12 weeks of resistance training increased HDL-C levels (MD=4.20; 95%CI=1.16 to 7.23) and decreased triglycerides (MD=-14.86; 95%CI=-26.62 to -3.09) and LDL-C levels (MD=-16.36; 95%CI=-28.05 to -4.67). Overall, the results showed that physical exercise regulated lipid profiles in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Specifically, 12 weeks of resistance exercise and 16 weeks of aerobic exercise improved the lipid profile of obese postmenopausal women.