Cardiometabolic Health in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
Conditions
Keywords
Intermittent walking, Premenopausal women, Postmenopausal women, Cardiometabolic health, C-reactive protein, Lipid profile, Aerobic capacity
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare premenopausal and postmenopausal women regarding the effects of a 10-week moderate-intensity intermittent walking training (MIWT) program on aerobic capacity and selected cardiometabolic and inflammatory markers. The main question it aims to answer is: Does a MIWT program induce differential improvements in aerobic capacity, body composition, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers between premenopausal and postmenopausal women? Participants in the premenopausal group will perform a 10-week MIWT program, three sessions per week. Participants in the postmenopausal group will perform the same 10-week MIWT program, three sessions per week. Each training session consists of 5 repetitions of 6-minute walking (6MWT) at 60-80% of the baseline 6MWT distance, interspersed by 6 minutes of active recovery between repetitions. Body composition, aerobic capacity (6-minute walk test), heart rate, blood pressure, lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides), and C-reactive protein (CRP) will be assessed before and after the intervention in both groups.
Detailed description
In premenopausal and postmenopausal women, differences in cardiometabolic profile, body composition, and aerobic capacity are commonly observed, with postmenopausal women generally presenting higher cardiometabolic risk. Regular physical activity is known to improve these parameters; however, the specific effects of moderate-intensity intermittent walking training (MIWT) on the comparison between premenopausal and postmenopausal women remain insufficiently explored. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of a 10-week moderate-intensity intermittent walking training (MIWT) program on aerobic capacity, body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, and inflammatory markers in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Thirty-two women were allocated into a premenopausal group (n = 16) and a postmenopausal group (n = 16). Both groups performed a MIWT program three times per week for 10 weeks. Each training session consisted of 5 repetitions of 6-minute walking (6-minute walk test, 6MWT) performed at 60-80% of the baseline 6MWT distance, interspersed by 6 minutes of active recovery between repetitions. Body composition, aerobic capacity (6MWT), heart rate, blood pressure, lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed before and after the intervention in both groups to evaluate changes induced by the training program.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALModerate-Intensity Intermittent Walking Training (MIWT)
Participants will perform a 10-week moderate-intensity intermittent walking training (MIWT) program, with three supervised sessions per week. Each session consists of 5 repetitions of 6-minute walking (6-minute walk test, 6MWT) performed at 60-80% of the baseline 6MWT distance, interspersed by 6 minutes of active recovery between repetitions. The same intervention is applied to both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Sponsors
High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
32 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Women aged 32 to 43 years (premenopausal, with regular menstrual cycles for at least 12 months) or 49 to 65 years (postmenopausal, with absence of menstruation for at least 12 months). Body mass index (BMI) \> 24.9 kg/m². * For the postmenopausal group: amenorrhea ≥ 12 months. * For the premenopausal group: regular menstrual cycles for at least 12 months.
Exclusion criteria
* Cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, heart failure). * Presence of metabolic or inflammatory disorders (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune diseases, active infections).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | BMI calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²). |
| Body Fat Percentage | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Total body fat measured by digital scale (Tanita BC-533). |
| Waist Circumference | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Measured at the narrowest point between the rib cage and iliac crest using a tape measure. |
| Hip Circumference | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Measured at the widest point of the hips using a tape measure. |
| C-Reactive Protein (CRP) | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Serum CRP concentration (mg/L). |
| Total Cholesterol | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Serum total cholesterol concentration (mg/dL). |
| High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Serum HDL cholesterol concentration (mg/dL). |
| Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Serum LDL cholesterol concentration (mg/dL). |
| Triglycerides | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Serum triglyceride concentration (mg/dL). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) Distance | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Distance walked in 6 minutes on a 30-meter straight corridor. |
| Blood Pressure (Systolic and Diastolic) | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Measured using an automated arm cuff (Omron BP652). |
| Resting Heart Rate | Baseline and after the 10 weeks of the training intervention. | Measured using automated device (Omron BP652). |
Countries
Tunisia
Contacts
CONTACTWissal Abassi Dr
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORWissal Abassi
Research Unit "Sport Sciences, Health and Movement"(UR22JS01) High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, 7100 Kef, Tunisia.
Outcome results
None listed