The independent effects of exercise and estrogen on lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women

Objective: To assess the effects of a moderate exercise program with and without oral estrogen replacement on levels of lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women. Methods: One hundred one postmenopausal women were randomized into four groups: control or sedentary (N=20), exercise alone (N=25), estrogen replacement using 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen (N=28), and exercise supplemented with conjugated equine estrogen (N=28). The exercise groups were placed on a moderate exercise program. Following baseline testing, each group returned at 3 and 6 months for cardiorespiratory fitness testing and serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles. Results: We found a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (P<.05) in all treatment groups