Introduction: Obesity and menopause both increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, associated with fibrinolysis capacity reduction. PAI-1 is main inhibitors of tPA and increased levels of plasma PAI-1 leads to hypofibrinolysis that in these conditions the removal of thrombosis are impaired, whereas PAI-1 deficiency leads to accelerated fibrinolysis and bleeding. Fibrinolysis function decline occurs with obesity, menopause and lack of physical activity that associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However,the role of aerobic exercise on PAI-1 as a primary regulator of fibrinolysis and as well as adipokine secreted from adipose tissue in obese postmenopausal women not understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on PAI-1 in postmenopausal women is overweight and obese.
Methodology: A number of twenty four overweight and obese postmenopausal women (age: 53.61±5.02 yrs, weight: 74.95±7.74 kg and BMI: 30.56±3.43 kg/m2) were randomly divided into two groups including Aerobic Training (n=13) and control (n=12). Aerobic training group were trained 3 sessions/wk for eight weeks at 60-75% of max reserve heart rate for 30-60 minutes. Blood samples were collected at baseline as well as 48 hrs after the last training session, followed by measuring PAI-1 plasma levels by ELISA.
Results: Data analysis showed that aerobic training significantly reduced the plasma level of PAI-1 (p˂0.05). Also, aerobic training reduced triglycerides, LDL and increased HDL (p˂0.05). But there were no effects on cholesterol (P>0.05). .
Discussion: Hypertriglyceride spread risk of thrombosis by increasing PAI-1. According to role of aerobic exercise in improving the lipid profile (reduced LDL, triglycerides), in this study could be the reason for the decrease in PAI-1. Also, the accumulation of adipose tissue increase PAI-1 level that leads to impairment of the fibrinolytic system and positive relationship have been reported between PAI-1 levels with BMI index. Because, in the study, aerobic exercise was decreased body weight and body fat percentage in the exercise group, could be a reason for the decrease in PAI-1.Moderate-intensity aerobic training play an important role in reducing PAI-1 and lipid profile in overweight and obese postmenopausal women.