Assessment of Hepatic and Lipid Profiles Following 12 Weeks of Aerobic Exercise in Overweight Postmenopausal Women

The impact of aerobic training on liver function by modulating hepatic enzymes and lipid profiles in overweight women is uncertain. The aim of our study was to examine the impact of 12-week aerobic exercise training on hepatic and lipid profiles and cardiorespiratory indices in overweight women aged over 50 years. Thirty sedentary and overweight postmenopausal women (PMW) over 50 years old were randomly divided into 2 groups: exercise (Ex, n=15) and control (C, n=15) groups. The Ex group performed moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (60 min/d, 3 days/week at 65%-70% of maximal heart rate reserve [HRmax]) for 12 weeks. The C group participated in no intervention during a 3-month period and maintained their normal daily lifestyle. The serum levels of hepatic and lipid profiles were assessed at baseline and after week 12. Descriptive and inferential (ANCOVA test) statistics were used to analyze the data using SPSS software version 23.0 at a significance level of P < 0.05. After 12 weeks of exercise intervention, the serum levels of hepatic and lipid profiles were not significantly different in the Ex group compared to the C group (P > 0.05). However, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), walking-jogging time to exhaustion (WJTE), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) significantly increased in the Ex group (P < 0.05). In contrast, systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly decreased in the Ex group (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (jogging and walking) at 65%-70% of HRmax did not affect the liver function without modulating hepatic enzymes and lipid profiles in overweight women over 50 years old, whereas cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) by modulating VO2max, WJTE, and SBP was improved.