Effects of concurrent exercise on cardiometabolic status during perimenopause: the FLAMENCO Project

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a 4-month concurrent exercise training program on cardiometabolic status in perimenopausal women.
Methods: The participants (n = 150) were randomized into counseling (n = 75) and exercise (n = 75) groups. The exercise group followed 4-month (3 days/week, 60 min/session) concurrent training. The counseling group attended conferences on a healthy lifestyle. We determined plasma glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and C-reactive protein, and measured blood pressure and the resting heart rate.
Results: In the per-protocol analyses, the exercise group showed lower LDL-C concentrations than the counseling group when the model was further adjusted for the baseline values and diet (10.2 mg/dl; 95% confidence interval −19.4, −0.96; p = 0.031). Borderline significant total cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure were reduced in both groups with better results in exercise group (p = 0.068 and p = 0.090, respectively).
Conclusion: The present findings suggest that the concurrent exercise training program could improve plasma glucose, lipid profile, CRP, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the exercise group. These results also suggest the importance of a healthy diet and active behavior during menopause, as improvements in both the exercise and the counseling group were observed. Future analysis should combine both interventions in search of better results.

研究目的：本研究旨在评估为期4个月的联合运动训练方案对围绝经期女性心脏代谢状态的影响。
研究方法：本研究共纳入150名受试者，随机分为宣教组（n=75）与运动组（n=75）。运动组接受为期4个月、每周3次、每次60分钟的联合运动训练；宣教组则参与健康生活方式主题宣讲课程。本研究检测了受试者的血浆葡萄糖、总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、甘油三酯及C反应蛋白，并测量了血压与静息心率。
研究结果：符合方案集分析结果显示，当模型进一步校正基线值与饮食因素后，运动组的低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）浓度显著低于宣教组（10.2mg/dl；95%置信区间：-19.4~-0.96；p=0.031）。两组的总胆固醇与舒张压均出现具有临界统计学意义的下降，且运动组的改善效果更优（分别对应p=0.068与p=0.090）。
研究结论：本研究结果表明，联合运动训练方案可改善运动组受试者的血浆葡萄糖、血脂谱、C反应蛋白（CRP）以及收缩压与舒张压水平。同时，鉴于两组受试者均出现指标改善，本研究亦提示围绝经期阶段保持健康饮食与积极活动的重要性。未来可探索将两种干预手段相结合，以获取更优的研究结果。