Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is one of the most prevalent causes of death in women after menopause. Physical activity is a key element in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. Evidence has established a strong relationship between elevated levels of atherogenic lipoproteins, particularly low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and the risk of death and complications from cardiovascular causes. So the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a period of moderate-intensity aerobic training on predictor factors of atherosclerosis in sedentary postmenopausal women.
Methodology: In this semi experimental study, 20 sedentary postmenopausal women divided into two groups of high intensity interval training (n=10, mean age 55.30±0.87 years, weight 70.31±3.09 kg, body mass index 27.67±0.97 kg/m2) and control (n=10, mean age 56.15±0.74 years, weight 70.38±2.31 kg, ,body mass index 27.77±1.22 kg/m2), respectively. The experimental group received high intensity interval training (8 weeks, 3 sessions per weeks and 45 min per session with 50–65% of heart rate reserve) program for 8 weeks. Subjects fasting blood was collected for measurement of high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), Cholesterol, Triglyceride concentrations at baseline and 8 weeks after exercise program. Evaluation of serum levels were performed by using photometric techniques. The data analyzed using SPSS-23 and independent and dependent T student test. Significance level of p≤0.05 considered.
Results: The results showed that LD, Cholesterol, Triglyceride concentrations had a significant decrease and HDL had a significant increase compared to basal after the exercise program in experimental group, while the control group had significant decrease in HDL compared to baseline values (P<0.05).
Discussion: In addition to increasing HDL cholesterol and decreasing LDL cholesterol, the exercise program is concluded to have improved the quality of the circulating LDL, which may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.