FUNCTIONAL FITNESS IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH METABOLIC FITNESS IN OLDER WOMEN

Abstract

Functional fitness is of special relevance for older people since it specifies the physiologic capacity to perform daily activities safely and independently. Metabolic fitness is related to cardiovascular disease risk factors. The relationship between these two parameters is not well established in older women. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to analyze the association between major cardiovascular disease risk factors that characterize metabolic fitness – triglycerides (Tg), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-chol), insulin, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-chol) and apolipoprotein CIII -, and functional abilities, included in the Functional Fitness Test battery (Rikli & Jones, 1999), in a sample of postmenopausal women. METHODS Subjects were 136 postmenopausal sedentary women (age: 61.3±6.4 years; weight: 66.5±10.6 kg; height: 154.2±5.7 cm; BMI: 27.9±3.8 kg/m2). Plasma insulin was determined by RIA, HDL-chol and Tg were quantified by enzymatic colorimetric methods, LDL-chol was estimated with the Friedwald equation, and apo C-III was assessed with a immunoturbidimetric assay. The Functional Fitness Test battery included the 30-s chair stand, arm curl, chair sit-and-reach, back scratch, 2-min step, 8-ft up-and-go, and BMI. RESULTS Significant correlations (p < 0.05), controlling for age, were only observed between back scratch and BMI (r=0.31), LDL-chol (r=−0.22) and apo CIII (r=0.26). No differences (p > 0.05) were observed between all other tests included in Functional Fitness Test battery and the metabolic fitness markers studied. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that functional abilities that support functional mobility in older women are not related with cardiovascular health. Therefore, it seems plausible to consider functional fitness and metabolic fitness as two different components of any disability model identifying relevant parameters for healthy aging. Supported by Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal.