Effects of 12 Weeks Walking on Plasma Adiponectin Concentration in Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer

Adiponectin is involved in breast cancer development, and data available suggest that exercise increases plasma adiponectin, but little is known about the effect of exercise on plasma adiponectin in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. The purpose of this study therefore was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of walking on plasma adiponectin in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Nineteen postmenopausal women with breast cancer (aged 55 ± 2.7 years; mean ± SD) who had undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with hormone therapy by letrozol, were divided into the training (n=11) and control (n=8) groups. Subjects in the experimental group walked 25 to 45 minutes with intensity of 45 to 65% of target heart rate, 4 days for 12 weeks. The results showed that maximum oxygen uptake increased and fasting insulin decreased significantly after 12 weeks in the training group, as compared to the control group (P<0.05). However, after 12 weeks walking no significant differences were observed in the plasma adiponectin, fasting glucose and insulin resistance between the two groups. Although 12 weeks walking improves aerobic capacity, it does not affect plasma adiponectin concentration in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.