Benefits of exercise during peri-and postmenopause

Abstract

Menopause is associated with an increasing risk to develop the so called metabolic syndrome. A major reason is the decrease of circulating estrogen, a sex steroid which is involved in a variety of metabolic processes. Estrogens affect fat metabolism, bone metabolism and protein metabolism. Declining estrogen levels are associated with adverse lipid profiles, a reduced ability o to metabolize fatty acids, reduced bone mass and density and with a decrease in skeletal muscle mass. All this has implications for the development of diseases like cardiovascular disease, sarcopenia, osteoporosis and diabetes type II. Animal experimental studies and human investigations have clearly demonstrated differences in the ability to metabolize fatty acids between pre- and postmenopausal females. In animal experimental studies but also in human intervention studies we have demonstrated that physical activity has a beneficial impact on many physiological parameters associated with the mentioned diseases. Resistance training has been demonstrated to be an important strategy to maintain bone mass in postmenopausal females. Endurance training has strong preventive effects for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore development of individualized training concepts combined with on optimized nutrition and pharmacological treatment concepts a are powerful strategies to overcome negative physiological impacts in peri- or postmenopause.