A home-based treadmill training reduced epicardial and abdominal fat in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome

Nutr Hosp. 2014 Sep 1;30(3):609-13. doi: 10.3305/nh.2014.30.3.7129.

Abstract

Introduction: The current study was designed to determine the effect of home-based treadmill training on epicardial and abdominal adipose tissue in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome (MS). A secondary objective was to identify significant correlations between imaging and conventional anthropometric parameters.

Material and methods: Sixty postmenopausal women with MS volunteered for the current trial. Thirty were randomly assigned to perform a supervised home-based 16-week treadmill training program, 3 sessions/week, consisting of a warm-up, 30-40 min treadmill exercise (increasing 5-minutes each 4-weeks) at a work intensity of 60-75% of peak heart rate (increasing 5% each 4-weeks) and cooling-down. Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) was assessed by echocardiography. Abdominal fat mass in the lumbar regions L1-L4 and L4-L5 was determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry.

Results: Epicardial fat thickness and abdominal fat percentages were significantly improved after the completion of the training program. Another striking feature of the current study was the moderate correlation that was found between EFT and waist circumference (WC).

Conclusion: Home-based treadmill training reduced epicardial and abdominal fat in postmenopausal women with MS. A secondary finding was that a moderate correlation was found between EFT and WC. While current investigations are promising, future studies are still required to consolidate this approach in clinical application.

Introducción: El presente estudio se diseñó para conocer la influencia de un programa de entrenamiento aeróbico domiciliario en la masa grasa epicárdica y abdominal de mujeres postmenopausicas con síndrome metabólico (SM). Un segundo objetivo fue identificar correlaciones significativas entre las variables antropométricas ensayadas.

Material y método: Participaron voluntariamente un total de 60 mujeres postmenopausicas con diagnóstico de SM que se distribuyeron aleatoriamente en el grupo de intervención (n=30) o control (n=30). El programa de intervención, desarrollado en el domicilio, consistió en un entrenamiento en tapiz rodante de 16 semanas, 3 sesiones/ semana. La parte principal se realizó a una intensidad del 60-75%FCmax (incrementando 5% cada 4 semanas) durante 30-40 minutos (incrementando 5-minutos cada 4-semanas). La masa grasa epicárdica se determinó mediante ecocardiografía. La masa grasa abdominal de las regiones de interés L1-L4 y L4-L5 se determinó mediante densitometría.

Resultados: Se observó un descenso significativo tanto de la masa grasa epicárdica como abdominal tras completar el entrenamiento. Se identificó una correlación moderada entre la masa grasa epicárdica y el perímetro de la cintura de las participantes que podría facilitar su seguimiento clínico.

Conclusión: Un programa de entrenamiento de resistencia redujo la masa grasa epicárdica y abdominal. Futuros estudios en esta línea son aún necesarios.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Fat* / diagnostic imaging
  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Adipose Tissue / diagnostic imaging
  • Body Mass Index
  • Exercise Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Syndrome / therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pericardium* / ultrastructure
  • Postmenopause
  • Ultrasonography
  • Waist Circumference