Endurance exercise training enhances cutaneous microvascular reactivity in post-menopausal women

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare cutaneous microvascular reactivity between untrained young and post-menopausal women, and assess the effects of 48weeks of endurance exercise training on cutaneous microvascular reactivity in post-menopausal women. MethodsTwenty post-menopausal and 12 young women completed this study. Using laser-Doppler flowmetry, an index of skin blood flow was measured on the forearm at rest, during post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH), and during localised heating to 42°C. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as the ratio of laser-Doppler flow to mean arterial pressure (in AUmmHg−1). For the post-menopausal women, this assessment was also performed after 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48weeks of endurance exercise training. ResultsPORH and maximum CVC responses were depressed in untrained post-menopausal women compared with young controls (P≤0.011 for all methods of data expression). PORH was increased (P<0.05) in the post-menopausal women after 24weeks of exercise training (0.51±0.16 vs. 0.65±0.23AUmmHg−1), with further increases after 36 and 48weeks (0.76±0.27 and 0.88±0.32AUmmHg−1, respectively). Similarly, maximum CVC was increased (P<0.05) after 24weeks (2.20±0.31 vs. 2.66±0.27AUmmHg−1), and at the 36-week assessment (2.90±0.30AUmmHg−1). Cardiopulmonary fitness (V˙O2max) increased after 12weeks (23.5±4.4 vs. 25.4±5.1mLkg−1min−1; P<0.05), and improved further throughout the intervention (31.6±5.9mLkg−1min−1 at week 48). There was a moderate positive relationship between the change in PORH (in AUmmHg−1) between weeks 0 and 48 and the concomitant change in V˙O2max (r=0.65, P=0.002). After 24–36weeks of exercise training, the PORH and maximum CVC responses of the post-menopausal women did not differ to those of the young untrained women (P>0.05). ConclusionCutaneous microvascular reactivity is reduced in post-menopausal women compared to young controls and increased to similar levels after 24–36weeks of mild-to-moderate endurance exercise.