Effect of menopause and exercise training on plasma apolipoprotein M and sphingosine-1-phosphate

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Objective: The axis of apolipoprotein M (apoM) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is of importance to plasma lipid levels, endothelial function, and development of atherosclerosis. Menopause is accompanied by dyslipidemia and an increased risk of atherosclerosis, which can be lowered by exercise training. The aim of this study was to explore if effects of menopause and training are paralleled by changes in the apoM/S1P axis.

Methods: Healthy, late premenopausal (n=38, age 49.2±2) and recent postmenopausal (n=37, age 53.3±3) women from the Copenhagen Women Study participated in a three-month, aerobic high-intensity exercise intervention.

Results: Before training, plasma apoM was higher in postmenopausal (1.08±0.2 µmol/l (mean±SD)) compared to premenopausal (0.82±0.2 µmol/l) women (p<0.0001). Plasma S1P was similar in the two groups (0.44±0.1 and 0.46±0.1 µmol/l, respectively). Hence, the pre-training S1P/apoM ratio was 26% lower in postmenopausal than premenopausal women (p<0.0001). After the training program, plasma apoM increased from 0.82±0.2 to 0.90±0.3 µmol/l in premenopausal women and from 1.08±0.2 to 1.16±0.3 µmol/l in postmenopausal women (p<0.05). Plasma S1P increased from 0.44±0.1 to 0.47±0.1 µmol/l in premenopausal women and from 0.46±0.1 to 0.48±0.1 µmol/l in postmenopausal women (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The results suggest that menopause is accompanied by higher plasma apoM but not S1P concentrations, and that exercise training increases plasma apoM and S1P in healthy middle-aged women irrespective of menopausal status.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Applied Physiology
Volume126
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)214-220
Number of pages7
ISSN8750-7587
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Research areas

  • Faculty of Science - Apolipoproteins, Lipoprotein metabolism, Lipids, Sphingolipids, Atherosclerosis, Menopausal transition, Cardiovascular training

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