Exercise training induces thrombogenic benefits in recent but not late postmenopausal females

Line Boel Nørregaard, Kate Aiko Wickham, Thomas Ehlers, Marcos Paulo Rocha, Mads Fischer, Martina H Lundberg Slingsby, Stephen S Cheung, Phillip Adrian Evans, Jens Bangsbo, Ylva Hellsten*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Although regular physical activity is known to improve cardiovascular health in men, evidence for its beneficial effects in postmenopausal females is less convincing and it remains unclear whether initiation of exercise training soon after, rather than many years after menopause impacts the magnitude of training-induced adaptations. We evaluated exercise-induced changes inmarkers of thrombotic risk and conduit artery function in recent≤5yr compared with late10yr postmenopausal females. Fourteen recent≤5yr and 13 late≥10yr healthy postmenopausal females completed 8 wk of regular intensive exercise training, consisting of floorball and cycling. Markers of thrombotic risk and vascular health were assessed before and after the intervention, and data were analyzed using a linear mixed model. Exercise training reduced markers of thrombotic risk, including an 11% reduction (P = 0.007) in agonist-induced platelet reactivity and a reduction (P = 0.027) in incipient clot microstructure (∼40% reduction in clot~mass) in the recent≤5yr but not the late≥10yr (P = 0.380; P = 0.739, respectively) postmenopausal females. There was no change in conduit artery function, as measured by brachial (recent≤5yr, P = 0.804; late≥10yr, P = 0.311) and popliteal artery (recent≤5yr, P = 0.130; late≥10yr, P = 0.434) flow-mediated dilation. Only the late≥10yr postmenopausal females exhibited an increase (by 9.6%, P = 0.022) in intracellular adhesion molecule-1 levels after training, which may have impacted the thrombogenic adaptation in this group. These findings suggest that 8 wk of high-intensity exercise training reduces thrombotic risk in recent≤5yr, but not late≥10yr postmenopausal females. Thus, regular physical activity initiated soon after, rather than many years after menopause and at a higher age, may be more efficient for reducing thrombogenic risk.
New & noteworthy: Eight weeks of high-intensity exercise training reduces platelet reactivity as well as blood clot density and strength in females ≤5 yr past menopause but not in females ≥10 yr past menopause. The divergent response in the late postmenopausal females may be explained by training-induced low-grade systemic inflammation. These findings suggest that regular physical activity initiated soon after menopause, compared with many years after menopause, may be more efficient for reducing the risk of blood clots.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Volume325
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)H346-H361
Number of pages16
ISSN0363-6135
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Faculty of Science
  • Exercise training
  • Menopause
  • Platelets
  • Thrombosis
  • Vascular function

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