The influence of a 12-week program of physical activity on changes in body composition and lipid and carbohydrate status in postmenopausal women

Introduction

Among aetiological factors of the most frequent civilization diseases, such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis or tumours, there is also a decrease in physical activity being a simple consequence of civilization development [1]. These diseases lead to an increased disability of the society (elimination from professional activity) and a growing number of deaths. The World Health Organisation (WHO) determined the following risk factors for these diseases: lack of physical activity, arterial hypertension, hyperglycaemia, lipid disorders, overweight, obesity and smoking [1]. In Poland, during the past ten years a few large scale studies were undertaken, such as NATPOL PLUS, WOBASZ which assessed the prevalence of lipid disorders in adults [2-5].
The increase in physical activity has an extensive positive influence on the state of health, which is connected with facilitation of some organs and systems activities resulting from developing post-training changes. It also positively affects metabolism by maintaining energy balance and thus lowering body weight. Growth of muscle and bone mass is an additional benefit of the increased physical activity. Physical exercise reduces the adipose tissue, improves the lipid profile and glycaemic one as well as endothelium functions, increases the activity of the immunological system and decreases oxidative stress in the organism [6].
The mechanism of the beneficial action of physical exercise on fat and carbohydrate metabolism is not fully known. Post-exercise changes in the lipid profile are connected with an improvement of insulin sensitivity by increased use of fatty acids as energy carriers. Physical exercise leads to an increased transport of glucose to the muscles through GLUT-4 proteins by intensification of their expression and biosynthesis and increased sensitivity to insulin. It inhibits the release of fatty acids, decreases synthesis and release of triacylglycerols in the liver, lowers the concentration of glucose in the blood and also decreases the level of proteins carrying esters of cholesterol (CEPT) [7]. In physically active people, significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) as well as a higher level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction can be observed in comparison to sedentary people [8]. The influence of physical exercise on the lipid profile depends on its intensity and duration, and also on the sex of the participants. The best exercise causing an increase in fats metabolism is a long-term effort (aerobic one) of slight intensity (up to 70% of maximum frequency of cardiac contractions) for 2.5-5 hours weekly. Exercise of this type is recommended in healthful training [9]. The kind of activity should be adjusted to the capabilities and preferences of the training person. It can include marching, endurance marching, cycling, swimming or dancing. Endurance training should be supplemented with resistance exercises (10-15% of the training volume). It is vital to start the exercises with a 5-10 minutes’ – warm-up and finish it with cool-down exercises [10, 11].
Although it is known that physical activity positively affects health, studies have been conducted for years on what kind of physical activity is the most beneficial to maintain it. It is usually believed that endurance trainings of moderate intensity are the best to promote health and prevent the risk of civilization diseases. Recently, it has been found that also other forms of physical activity can be significant in health promotion. It was observed that interval exercise with short-term, sudden intensification of effort performed at low endurance workload can be beneficial for health [12]. However, expanding recommendations of applying this form of training for elderly people burdened with illnesses requires further investigations. Promotional programs of physical activity need to be modified in many cases in order to better adapt them to current capabilities of the training person.
The aim of the work was to assess the efficiency of postmenopausal women’s physical activity program regarding possible improvements of their body composition and biochemical indices indicating lipid and carbohydrate status connected with health state.

Material and methods

Subjects

The tests were carried out on 42 females aged 65.24 ± 6.77 years who attended the University of the Third Age (Uniwersytet Trzeciego Wieku) at the Podhale State Higher Vocational School (Podhalańska Państwowa Szkoła Zawodowa) in Nowy Targ. Participation in the test was not compulsory. The volunteers had to meet the qualification criteria shown in graph no. 1 and fill in the survey form of IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) – shortened version [13] concerning former and current physical activity. From the group of 80 applicants, 42 women who met the requirements have been selected.
According to the Helsinki Declaration ethic principles, the participants were informed about the aim and methodology of the tests and the possibility of resigning from the tests at any stage and they submitted written consent. The project received a positive opinion from the Bioethical Commission at PPWSZ in Nowy Targ No. 1/2013.

Program of physical activity

The program of physical activity included 12-week trainings of Nordic walking (NW) and gymnastic-dance classes (G-D).
For 12 weeks the subjects took part in 90 min training sessions of NW once a week supervised by an instructor. Each NW training started with a warm-up and finished with stretching exercises. The intensity of effort during the NW training was at a level of 60% of HRmax (HR was registered telemetrically with the use of cardio monitors Polar Vantage NV and Polar 610S manufactured by Polar Electro). Maximal values of the heart rate (HRmax) were estimated routinely following the formula: HRmax = 220 – age (in years) [14]. The subjects also participated in 45-min-long G-D once a week supervised by an instructor. The classes started with a warm-up followed by the main part: learning steps and choreo­graphy and exercises strengthening individual groups of muscles in medium and low positions. At the end of the classes, static stretching exercises were done. The intensity of exercises was selected based on a subjective assessment of effort according to a 20-degree scale of work heaviness for elderly people [15]. The initial part of the G-D classes lasting 15 min was assessed using the scale at 13-14 points, the main 15-min-part at 14-15 points and the final part was at 13-14 points.

Examination of body composition

Before the beginning of the program of physical activity and after it was completed, the participants underwent an examination of their body composition applying the bioelectrical impedance method (BIA) with the use of a body composition analyser (Tanita BC-601 Japan). In order to ensure the reliability of the measurements the subjects were recommended to have a bowel movement within 30 min before the measurement, and also not to consume alcoholic beverages for 48 hrs and meals for 4 hrs before the tests. During the body composition analysis, the subjects were dressed in light clothes.
During the examination, body weight (BW), body height (BH), percentage content of adipose tissue (PF%) and fat content in kilograms (fat mass – FM), fat free body mass (lean body mass – LBM) and body mass index (BMI) have been determined.

Blood sampling and biochemical tests

One day before the beginning of the program and one day after it was completed a laboratory diagnostician collected blood samples from all the subjects on an empty stomach. They were taken from a vein in the cubital fossa in the Analytical Laboratory in Nowy Targ according to current standards. In the plasma concentrations of TC, HDL fraction of cholesterol (HDL-C), triacylglycerols (TG), glucose (G) and insulin (I) have been determined.
Total cholesterol was determined with the cholesterol test (Abbot Laboratories) dedicated for quantitative determination of cholesterol in human plasma with the enzymatic method using the Architect ci8200 analyser (Abbot Laboratories). High density lipoprotein was determined with the Ultra HDL (UHDL) test (Abbot Laboratories) used for quantitative measurement of HDL in human plasma with Architect ci8200 analyser (Abbot Laboratories). Low density lipoprotein fraction cholesterol was calculated using the Friedewald formula [16]:

LDL-C [mmol × l–1] = TC [mmol × l–1] – TG [mmol × l–1]/2.2 – HDL [mmol × l–1]

where: LDL-C – low density lipoprotein fraction cholesterol, TC – total cholesterol, TG – triacylglycerols; LDL-C was calculated assuming that concentration of TG is below 4.6 mmol × l–1.
Triacylglycerols were determined with the Triglyceride test (Abbott Laboratories) used for quantitative determination of triglycerides in human plasma on the Architect ci8200 analyser (Abbot Laboratories).
The HOMAIR index was calculated using the formula:

HOMAIR = insulin (mU/ml) × glucose × mmol/l/22.5

Atherogenicity index of plasma lipoproteins (API) was calculated using the formula [17]:

API = Log (TG/HDL-C)

Atherosclerosis risk index (WRM) was calculated using the formula [18]:

WRM = TG/HDL-C

Analysis of nutrition

In order to define the amount and type of food consumed daily, each of the participants kept a nutrition diary for 7 days before the beginning of trainings and during the last 12th week of the training. On the basis of the collected data, a mean level of consumed products regarding energy value and content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates was calculated. The calculations were conducted with the use of a computer program Wikt 1.3 (IŻiŻ in Warsaw) and Tables of foodstuffs nutritive value [19, 20].

Statistical methods

Statistical analysis of the results was done with the use of the Statistica 10.0 pack for Windows by StatSoft. Conformity of variables distribution with normal distribution was checked applying the Shapiro-Wilk test. The analysis of variance with repetitive measurements (ANOVA) was used for calculations for all variables of normal distribution. All results were presented in the form of mean arithmetic values (x)  standard deviation (SD).

Results

The average concentration of TC tested before the beginning of trainings amounted to 6.02 ± 1.43 mmol/l and exceeded the norm. After the program of physical activity it significantly decreased (p < 0.001), but was still above the norm for women. The average concentration of HDL-C before the program was 1.39 ± 0.37 mmol/l and was within the accepted norm limits (> 1.2 mmol/l) whereas after the training it increased remarkably (p < 0.001). The average concentration of LDL-C before trainings was 3.94 ± 1.32 mmol/l being beyond the norm (< 3.0 mmol/l) accepted for women. After the trainings it significantly fell down (p < 0.001), but still remained above the norm. An average concentration of triglycerides before the trainings was 1.55 ± 0.67 mmol/l, which did not exceed the norm (< 1.7 mmol/l) and after the training it did not change significantly. The average concentration of glucose determined after a fasting period before the trainings was 5.19 ± 0.83 mmol/l remaining within the norm limits (3.9-5.5 mmol/l). After completing the trainings it significantly decreased (p < 0.001). An average concentration of insulin before the trainings was 8.15 ± 3.93 mU/ml not exceeding the norm 6-20 mU/l. After the 12 weeks of training it decreased remarkably (p < 0.001). Before the trainings the insulin resistance index (HOMAIR) did not exceed the cut-off point at a value level of 2.5. After trainings it significantly decreased (p < 0.001). The atherogenicity index of plasma lipoproteins (API) and the atherosclerosis risk index (WRM) did not change significantly under the influence of conducted physical trainings (Table I).
Table II presents changes in body biometrical indices of the subjects. All body biometric-structural indices did not change significantly after the 12-week-long physical training.
According to commonly accepted norms, the percentage of fat (PF) in women (22%) is remarkably higher than in men (16%). It is believed that a percentage content of fat in women within the range of 28-30% indicates overweight. Results at a level of 35% mean obesity. Up to 40% it is a moderate obesity and a level between 40% and 60% means a high degree obesity. It is also reflected in the Quetelet index (BMI) where expected values for women are 21-23. Overweight is 25-30 and obesity above 30 kg/m².
Although statistically insignificant changes of morphological body structure indices were observed within the examined group, it should be emphasized that they were in a proper direction. Body mass index got lower in the examined women (BMI = 0.33), yet it still indicated overweight, both before and after the trainings (28.22 and 28.55, respectively). The percentage fat content was 30.52% before and 29.87% after, which indicates the occurrence of overweight in the examined women. It should be mentioned that an increase in body weight (BW = 0.8 kg) was accompanied by an increase of lean body mass (LBM = 1.01 kg).
Table III shows components of the diet before the trainings and during the last week of physical activity. An analysis demonstrated that energy value of the diet before the trainings exceeded the norm of 1850 kcal/day accepted for women aged 51-65 years of the lowest physical activity (PAL = 1.4) [20]. In the last week of the training the diet energy value rose and still exceeded the acceptable norm for women of increased physical activity (PAL = 1.6) amounting at 2100 kcal/day [20]. The norm of recommended protein consumption: 41-72 g/person/day [20] was exceeded in the examined women both before and after the program. Recommendations for fats intake at 57 g/day, if they are 30% of a diet caloric value for people of low physical activity (PAL = 1.4) were also above the norm in both analysed groups. An analysis of carbohydrates consumption by the examined also showed consumption above the recommended norm of 130 g/day [20]. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) values were observed in components of the analysed diet (proteins, fats) in the last week of the training.

Discussion

Many systems and organs of the human body are affected by changes with age. Getting older is accompanied by an increase in adipose tissue content (FM) and a decrease in percentage lean body mass (LBM) which is connected mainly with the reduction in muscle proteins [21]. The loss of muscle mass can reach up to 16% during 10 years. More significant body weight changes are observed at the age of 50, and then a significant lowering of LBM takes place [22]. After 65 there is a negative relation between body weight and LBM. The higher body weight, the lower percentage is constituted by fat free tissues. In elderly people fat distribution in the organism changes and its content grows in the trunk region and decreases in the extremities [23]. Body mass is sensitive to physical exercise. Beneficial changes connected with physical activity occur in composition of the body, therefore in its density. The influence of physical activity on the content of adipose tissue in the organism is also undeniable: people of lower physical activity have more fat tissue, regardless of age [24, 25]. The fact that regular marching with sticks can contribute to lowering body weight and fat reserves in the organism has been confirmed by several scientific studies [26-28]. In non-obese, middle-aged women and men practising regular marches for 15 weeks (50 min/session, 4 sessions/week) with the intensity at 65-75% VO2max, a significant decrease in body weight, BMI and percentage fat content in the organism was observed [29].
In the examined women both BMI and percentage fat content in the organism indicated overweight which did not change after the training period. The 12-week training did not cause any change in body composition, which probably resulted from an improperly balanced diet and possible consumption of snacks between main meals registered during the nutrition analysis. Also the number of NW trainings that mainly are efforts when primarily fatty acids get burnt as the source of ATP to the muscles could be too low. An important element of lowering the content of adipose tissue in the organism at increased physical activity is a negative energy balance. Therefore, properly selected low caloric diet seems to be essential to cause a decrease in fat tissue content (which was not achieved in the present study).
Elimination of energy excess delivered by too high consumption of cholesterol and carbohydrates of a high glycaemic index (IG) from the diet as well as an increased physical activity lead to decreasing obesity and insulin resistance, apart from changes in the body composition. It is recommended to lower the energy intake by 500-1000 kcal/day and increase consumption of carbohydrates containing vegetables and fruit to at least 400 g/day [30]. Participants of the discussed study did not change radically their dietary habits and assessment of their diet did not reveal basic nutritional mistakes. Increased energy expenditure resulting from the training participation probably was offset by increased supply of energy in the diet (statistically significant increase in the supply of fats and proteins).
After the 12-week program of physical activity some positive changes in the plasma lipid profile were observed in the examined women as well as positive changes in carbohydrate metabolism in the organism. Age is one of the risk factors for lipid disorders. Results of many studies show that an improper level of lipids in the blood occurs mainly in people with too high content of adipose tissue which is connected with lack of physical activity and wrong diet [31-35]. In the examined group the mean concentrations of TC and LDL-C were beyond referential values and indicated lipid disorders in these women.
An improper lipid profile in the blood favouring development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases is characterised by an increased content of LDL-C, TC and TG. Lowered concentration of HDL-C is an independent and inversely correlated with the prevalence of the cardiovascular system diseases risk factor [36]. In this case it is vital to find physical methods, such as properly selected physical exercises to lower the LDL-C and increase that of HDL-C which is responsible for, so-called, reverse cholesterol transport carrying excess of free cholesterol from peripheral and adipose tissues mainly to the liver [37]. An important, anti-atherosclerotic role of HDL-C is also in preventing oxidative modification of LDL-C being an initial trigger of atherosclerotic plaque formation, and also its action on blood vessels epithelium which improves its functions by stimulation of nitric oxide production and inhibition of endothelial cells apoptosis [38-41]. Branth et al. in their studies on a group of middle-aged training men did not observe changes in the lipid profile in those subjects whose energy expenditure connected with the exercise was balanced by an increased energy intake [42]. In women examined by us, similarly to the men tested by Branth et al., an increased energy intake was observed during the 12-week training, which could have resulted in a lack of favourable changes in their plasma lipids profile.
One of the reasons for the increased prevalence of disorders concerning carbohydrate metabolism with increasing age is insulin resistance caused mainly by the accumulation of abdominal adipose tissue and decreased physical activity. In elderly people, as a result of higher insulin resistance, lowering of cellular glucose uptake and its metabolic clearance in basic conditions as well as endogenous suppression of glucose production at moderate hyperglycaemia when compared to young ones can be observed. An increase in insulin resistance of the adipose tissue, skeletal muscles and liver, and subsequently the risk of diabetes development can be significantly limited by preventing the growth of adipose tissue by, among others, increasing physical activity and lowering energy load in the diet [40]. Studies confirmed the importance of visceral adipose tissue content in the intensification of insulin resistance in women aged 50-70 years when compared to younger ones (18-35) [37]. Even a moderate growth of abdominal obesity with the coexisting dyslipidaemia in elderly people can favour insulin resistance [37].
Many authors underline the beneficial influence of physical training on the improvement of glucose tolerance and prevention of type 2 diabetes development in examined patients at any age [43, 44]. Lowering insulin secretion during physical exercise is attributed to an increase in sympathetic impulsation and a decrease in parasympathetic one as well as an increase in non-esterified fatty acids utilisation [45]. It has also been found out that physical activity of low intensity increases the affinity of the receptor to insulin and lowers its number when fasting. Physical training also causes an increase in the expression and translocation as well as biosynthesis of new GLUT-4 transporters [46].
Many randomized controlled trials have measured the effect of physical activity alone or combined with dietary interventions on postmenopausal women’s body weight or composition of the body. Evidence from the studies indicates that women should exercise and eat a caloric restricted diet to prevent weight gain during the menopause transition stage [47].
The present studies demonstrated that the program of physical activity is beneficial in terms of improvement of the plasma lipid profile as well as glycaemia and can be recommended in prophylactic and therapeutic goals. Finally, further research should focus on more rigorous study protocol including combined effect of physical activity and a caloric restricted diet, and a minimal time necessary to achieve a body composition defined by women and their health care professionals as healthy. These results would be more helpful for women and their health care professionals to choose an effective training program and dietary interventions.

Conclusions

The 12-week program of physical activity with the intensity of 60% of HRmax without changes in dietary habits contributed to improving the plasma lipid profile and increased insulin sensitivity.
The proposed physical activity program without dietary intervention did not change the indices of body composition.
It is recommended to associate physical activity with a balanced diet, which probably will have a favourable impact on body composition.
Additional application of a properly balanced diet of low energy load to the program of physical activity could provide better results in improving lipids and carbohydrates metabolism and result in positive changes of body composition.

Disclosure

Authors report no conflict of interest.

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