The effect of a session of moderate-intensity aerobic activity on blood flow-dependent vasodilatation and inflammatory factors in pre- and post-menopausal women.

Abstract
Background and purpose: Menopause is part of the natural process of a woman's life, but its complications can affect their health and quality of life. The onset of menopause coincides with the acceleration of vascular aging, a phenomenon that provides an optimal environment for cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Endothelial function seems to decrease with menopause. This reduction may be related to changes in inflammatory cytokines such as ILs, MCP-1, and TNF-a, as these cytokines are involved in the initiation of the inflammatory process, potentially leading to the initiation of the atherosclerotic process. Acute exercise may alter markers of endothelial activation and can transiently increase cytokine expression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of moderate aerobic activity on endothelial function and some biomarkers in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Materials and methods: In this semi-experimental study, 30 women without any history of exercise and suffering from any cardiovascular disease were randomly divided into two groups of 15 premenopausal women (with an average age of 47/7+1/3) and postmenopausal women (with an average age of age 56/8+1/5) were divided. After 5 minutes of warm-up including walking on the treadmill, the participants participated in 30 minutes of running on the treadmill with an intensity of 60-70% of the maximum heart rate, then aerobic activity with 5 minutes of cooling down including fast to slow walking on the treadmill to ended Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer while sitting on the left hand by the doctor before and after the activity. The participants' blood samples were collected 30 minutes before and after the activity, and the FMD of the participants was measured with an interval of 15 minutes before and after the activity. Independent t-test was used to analyze the research data.
Results: Independent t-test showed a significant difference in two inflammatory factors MCP-1 and TNF-a and flow-mediated dilatation index (FMD) after a bout of moderate aerobic activity between two groups of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. However, there was no significant difference in IL-6 and IL-8 between the two groups after a bout of aerobic activity.
Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women had different endothelial and inflammatory responses to a bout of aerobic activity. In particular, premenopausal women showed an increase in FMD in response to a bout of aerobic activity, along with a decrease in the inflammatory cytokines MCP-1 and TNF-a. It seems that premenopausal women have more adaptive endothelial and inflammatory responses to an aerobic activity session compared to postmenopausal women.