The effect of aerobic exercising on plasma nitric oxide level and vessel endothelium function in postmenopausal women

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women. Physiological decrease in estrogen levels and accumulation of visceral fat and being overweight، increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders in the menopausal years. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of aerobic exercising on plasma nitric oxide level and vessel endothelium function in postmenopausal women. In this semi-experimental study، twenty-three healthy postmenopausal women with the average of age: 54. 4±5. 56 years were randomly divided into two exercise group (n= 13) and control (n=10) group. The exercise group performed aerobic exercise for eight weeks، three sessions per week with 50-70% of maximum heart rate reserve. The duration of each training session was increased from 30 to 45 minutes gradually. During this period، the control group did not participate in any regular exercise program. Before and after aerobic training program، anthropometric measurements، VO2 max، nitric oxide concentrations and Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) of all subjects were measured. Data were analyzed with paired t-student test at a significance level of p<0. 05. Eight weeks of aerobic exercise، led to a significant reduction in weight and body fat; VO2max (p=0. 001)، FMD index (p=0. 026) and nitric oxide concentration (p=0. 003) were significantly increased after aerobic exercise program. Eight weeks of aerobic exercise induced increasing in nitric oxide and improving the vessel endothelium function in postmenopausal women; and it can be said that regular exercise may probably have a preventive effect for the development of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.