Effects of exercise type on estrogen, tumor markers, immune function, antioxidant function, and physical fitness in postmenopausal obese women

This study aims to identify the effects of exercise type on estrogen, tumor markers, immune function, antioxidant function, and physical fitness in postmenopausal obese women. The subjects were 30 post-menopausal obese women with body fat percentage higher than 30%. Participants were divided into aerobic exercise group (n=10; age, 53.70±3.37 years), resistance exercise group (n=10; age, 52.20±2.15 years), and control group (n=10; age, 52.50±2.68 years). Estrogen and growth hormone showed no significant difference in the aerobic exercise group, resistance exercise group, and control group. Tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein was increased in the aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and control groups (P<0.01). The metabolic syndrome risk factor was decreased in the aerobic and resistance exercise groups, which was shown by the reduction of weight (P<0.001), body fat percentage (P<0.001), waist circumference (P<0.05), and increase of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P<0.001). natural killer cell activity was increased in the aerobic exercise group, resistance exercise group, and control group (P<0.001). Oxidative stress was decreased in the aerobic exercise group, resistance exercise group, and control group (P<0.001). Maximum oxygen uptake was increased in the aerobic and resistance exercise groups, but aerobic exercise was more effective (P<0.05). Knee isokinetic extensor muscle was increased in both the aerobic and resistance exercise groups (P<0.001). Aerobic and resistance exercise of postmenopausal obese women can be considered an effective intervention program to prevent metabolic syndrome and improve physical fitness.