Aerobic Training Improves Angiogenic Potential Independently of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Modifications in Postmenopausal Women

The effect of exercise on blood concentrations of angiogenesis markers in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Impaired angiogenesis is associated with cognitive decline in older adults. While exercise has been broadly associated with increased angiogenesis, the relevant mechanisms in older adults are not clear. Here, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationship between exercise and specific blood angiogenesis markers in older adults to better understand the relevant mechanisms. MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched for original reports of angiogenesis markers' concentrations in blood before and after exercise in older adults (≥50 years). Heterogeneity was investigated using sub-group analyses and meta-regressions. Of the 44 articles included in the review, 38 were included in the meta-analyses for five markers: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), e-selectin (CD62E), endostatin, fibroblast growth factor 2, and matrix metallopeptidase-9. VEGF levels were higher (SMD[95%CI]= 0.18[0.03, 0.34], and CD62E levels were lower (SMD[95%CI]= -0.72[-1.42, -0.03], p = 0.04) after exercise. No other markers were altered. Although more studies are needed, changes in angiogenesis markers may help explain the beneficial effects of exercise on angiogenesis in older adults.

Moderate intensity walking exercises reduce the body mass index and vascular inflammatory factors in postmenopausal women with obesity: a randomized controlled trial

Postmenopause, the secretion of female hormones changes, causing excessive fat accumulation in the body and leading to chronic inflammation, which increases the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Walking is an easily accessible daily exercise and effective non-pharmacological treatment for reducing obesity and the incidence of CVD. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of moderate intensity walking exercises on body composition, vascular inflammatory factors, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in postmenopausal women with obesity. Twenty-six older postmenopausal women with obesity (ages 68-72) were randomly assigned to control (n = 12, BMI 26.06 ± 1.37) or exercise (n = 14, BMI 26.04 ± 1.94) groups. Following a 12-week moderate intensity walking exercise program, we measured the participants' body composition with an InBody S10 analyzer and assessed blood sera using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. There was a significant clustering by weight (p < 0.01), body mass index (p < 0.01), percentage body fat (p < 0.001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p < 0.05), interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (p < 0.05) being significantly decreased in the exercise group. Although VEGF levels did not change significantly, a tendency to increase was observed in participants that exercised. Our results indicate that walking exercise may help prevent CVD in postmenopausal women with obesity by reducing obesity and vascular inflammatory factors.

The Impact of Physical Activity and Inactivity on Cardiovascular Risk across Women's Lifespan: An Updated Review

Physical inactivity (PI) represents a significant, modifiable risk factor that is more frequent and severe in the female population worldwide for all age groups. The physical activity (PA) gender gap begins early in life and leads to considerable short-term and long-term adverse effects on health outcomes, especially cardiovascular (CV) health. Our review aims to highlight the prevalence and mechanisms of PI across women's lifespan, describing the beneficial effects of PA in many physiological and pathological clinical scenarios and underlining the need for more awareness and global commitment to promote strategies to bridge the PA gender gap and limit PI in current and future female generations.

Leptin-VEGF crosstalk in excess body mass and related disorders: A systematic review

By 2030, it is expected that a billion people will have suffer from obesity. Adipose tissue synthesizes leptin, an adipokine that affects cardiovascular risk. Leptin intensifies the synthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Our study reviews recent reports on leptin-VEGF crosstalk in obesity and related disorders. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched. One hundred and one articles involving human, animal, and in vitro research were included. In vitro studies show the crucial role of interaction between endothelial cells and adipocytes and hypoxia as a factor that intensifies leptin's effects on VEGF. Leptin-VEGF crosstalk promotes the progression of cancer. The animal research reveal that a high-fat diet enhances leptin and VEGF crosstalk. Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and procreator-offspring programming may be involved in leptin-VEGF crosstalk. Some female-specific characteristics of leptin-VEGF relation in obesity were observed. The human studies have shown that increased leptin and VEGF synthesis and leptin-VEGF crosstalk are factors linking obesity with elevated cardiovascular risk. The studies of the last 10 years documented a range of significant aspects of leptin-VEGF crosstalk specific for obesity and related disorders, shedding new light on the link between obesity and increased cardiovascular risk.

Effects of traditional Chinese exercise on vascular function in patients with Alzheimer's disease: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an insidious onset, usually characterized by memory impairment, visual-spatial skill impairment, executive dysfunction and personality behavioral changes. Studies have confirmed that vascular dysfunction may precede AD pathological changes and can present as vascular malformations, atherosclerosis, and impaired self-regulation, and can affect oxidative stress and amyloidosis. Therefore, it is important to improve or prevent vascular dysfunction in AD patients. Regular exercise can effectively inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species during the occurrence of AD and can improve the reduction of cerebral blood flow due to AD. Previous studies have shown that exercise can achieve superior clinical results in improving vascular function in AD patients. Therefore, we hypothesize that traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) may have a good clinical effect in improving vascular function in patients with AD.

METHODS

We will search "PubMed," "the Cochrane Library," "Embase," "Web of Science," "CINAHL," "ProQuest Dissertations and Theses," and "ProQuest-Health & Medical Collection," "CNKI," "SinoMed," "VIP," and "Wanfang Data" to find randomized controlled trials of the effects of TCEs on AD vascular function from the creation of the database to the present, including at least 1 indicator in carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), middle cerebral artery mean flow velocity (MFV), blood indicators [Heme Oxidase-1 (HO-1), angiopoietin I (Ang I), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)], and arterial stiffness [(Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), pulse wave velocity (PWV)]. For the included literature, Excel 2019 will be used for data extraction and collection. For the indicators that can be netted for network meta-analysis, Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking for each exercise modality will be calculated with the help of Stata 16.0 and rank, where the higher the SUCRA score, the higher the ranking. For the indicators that cannot be netted, Review Manager 5.4 will be used for meta-analysis will be performed to evaluate the improvement effect of TCEs on AD patients.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis will further determine the efficacy and safety of TCEs on vascular function in AD patients.

CONCLUSION

In this study, randomized controlled trials of the effects of TCEs on vascular function in AD patients will be selected to provide evidence-based medical evidence for promoting the application of TCEs by observing the order of advantages and disadvantages of various exercise modalities through network meta-analysis.

Biomolecules and Cardiovascular Diseases in Women

Although cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of non-communicable diseases-dependent death worldwide, their effects are still largely underestimated in women [...].

Prognostic Value of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin in Women

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays have become the gold standard for diagnosing acute and chronic myocardial injury. The detection of troponin levels beyond the 99th percentile is included in the fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction, specifically recommending the use of sex-specific thresholds. Measurable concentrations below the proposed diagnostic thresholds have been shown to inform prognosis in different categories of inpatients and outpatients. However, clinical investigations from the last twenty years have yielded conflicting results regarding the incremental value of using different cut-offs for men and women. While advocates of a sex-specific approach claim it may help reduce gender bias in cardiovascular medicine, particularly in acute coronary syndromes, other groups question the alleged incremental diagnostic and prognostic value of sex-specific thresholds, ultimately asserting that less is more. In the present review, we aimed to synthesize our current understanding of sex-based differences in cardiac troponin levels and to reappraise the available evidence with regard to (i) the prognostic significance of sex-specific diagnostic thresholds of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays compared to common cut-offs in both men and women undergoing cardiovascular disease risk assessment, and (ii) the clinical utility of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays for cardiovascular disease prevention in women.

The Effect of Self-Paced Exercise Intensity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Frontal Grey Matter Volume in Cognitively Normal Older Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

Exercise has been found to be important in maintaining neurocognitive health. However, the effect of exercise intensity level remains relatively underexplored. Thus, to test the hypothesis that self-paced high-intensity exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness (peak aerobic capacity; VO_2peak) increase grey matter (GM) volume, we examined the effect of a 6-month exercise intervention on frontal lobe GM regions that support the executive functions in older adults.

METHODS

Ninety-eight cognitively normal participants (age = 69.06 ± 5.2 years; n = 54 female) were randomised into either a self-paced high- or moderate-intensity cycle-based exercise intervention group, or a no-intervention control group. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging and fitness assessment pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 12-months post-intervention.

RESULTS

The intervention was found to increase fitness in the exercise groups, as compared with the control group (F = 9.88, p = <0.001). Changes in pre-to-post-intervention fitness were associated with increased volume in the right frontal lobe (β = 0.29, p = 0.036, r = 0.27), right supplementary motor area (β = 0.30, p = 0.031, r = 0.29), and both right (β = 0.32, p = 0.034, r = 0.30) and left gyrus rectus (β = 0.30, p = 0.037, r = 0.29) for intervention, but not control participants. No differences in volume were observed across groups.

CONCLUSIONS

At an aggregate level, six months of self-paced high- or moderate-intensity exercise did not increase frontal GM volume. However, experimentally-induced changes in individual cardiorespiratory fitness was positively associated with frontal GM volume in our sample of older adults. These results provide evidence of individual variability in exercise-induced fitness on brain structure.

Short-Term Supplementation With Fermented Red Clover Extract Reduces Vascular Inflammation in Early Post-menopausal Women

The decline in estrogen at menopause poses a critical challenge to cardiovascular and metabolic health. Recently, a growing interest in the role of phytoestrogens, with a particular focus on isoflavones, has emerged as they can bind to estrogen receptors and may mimic the roles of endogenous estrogen. Fermented red clover extract (RC) contains isoflavones with superior bioavailability compared to non-fermented isoflavones, however little is known regarding the impact of isoflavones on cardiovascular and metabolic health. We assessed markers of vascular health in plasma and skeletal muscle samples obtained from healthy but sedentary early post-menopausal women (n = 10; 54 ± 4 years) following 2 weeks of twice daily treatment with placebo (PLA) or RC (60 mg isoflavones per day). The two interventions were administered using a randomized, double-blind, crossover design with a two-week washout period. Plasma samples were utilized for assessment of markers of vascular inflammation. There was a statistically significant reduction (~5.4%) in vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) following 2 weeks of RC supplementation compared to PLA (p = 0.03). In contrast, there was no effect of RC supplementation compared to PLA on skeletal muscle estrogen receptor content and enzymes related to vascular function, and angiogenesis. Supplementation with RC reduces vascular inflammation in early post-menopausal women and future studies should address the long-term impact of daily supplementation with RC after menopause.

Resveratrol Enhances the Cytotoxic Activity of Lymphocytes from Menopausal Women

Nutraceuticals and functional foods are the main sources of antioxidants and have positive effects on health through regulation of the redox balance. Accordingly, they represent a useful nutritional source for the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Menopausal women have an increased risk of developing NCDs due to hormonal dysregulation and the ongoing aging process. Accordingly, a healthy lifestyle and good nutritional habits are of utmost importance in this population. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenol, and it is used as a nutraceutical given its estrogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of RSV on the lymphocyte cytotoxicity in menopausal women. Lymphocytes from 13 healthy menopausal women (56.18 ± 4.24 years) were isolated, and then cocultured with hTERT-HME1, a breast cell line with a precancerous phenotype. The results showed that, when treated with RSV, lymphocytes significantly increased the TNF-α production (p < 0.001), the formation of immune synapses (p = 0.009), and the target cell lysis (p = 0.002). No effects were detected in the lymphocyte total antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, RSV might enhance the immune surveillance in menopausal women by increasing the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes.

Maternal aerobic running during mid or late gestation improves the quality of oogenesis and folliculogenesis in the ovary of neonatal rats: An experimental study

Background

Regular maternal exercise in pregnancy enhances the physiological, metabolic, and psychological health of mother and fetus.

Objective

To determine the effect of maternal aerobic running during mid or late gestation on plasma levels of estrogen and progesterone and the histological alterations in the ovary of neonatal rats.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-one female Wistar rats were randomly divided into experimental groups to exercises during the 2 nd or 3 rd wk of pregnancy (n = 14) and a control group (n = 7). After birth, the neonate's blood was obtained and the estrogen and progesterone levels were evaluated. The ovaries were then removed and used for histological investigations and apoptic assessment.

Results

Higher concentrations of estrogen and progesterone were found in the neonates of the experimental groups (p = 0.001) compared to the control group. The experimental groups had a large ovarian diameter (2 nd wk: p = 0.044; 3 rd wk: p = 0.005) and angiogenesis (2 nd wk: p = 0.003; 3 rd wk: p = 0.001). In addition, significant enhancements were seen in the the experimental groups in terms of the number (2 nd wk: p = 0.017; p = 0.035) and diameter (2 nd wk: p = 0.046; 3 rd wk: p = 0.004) of primordial follicles, as well as in the diameter of primary oocytes (2 nd wk: p = 0.073; 3 rd wk: p = 0.019) compared to the control group. Moreover, rats that exercised had a lower number of apoptotic primordial follicles than the control group (2 nd wk: p = 0.001; 3 rd wk: p = 0.001).

Conclusion

It was shown that maternal aerobic running can lead to increased plasma levels of estrogen and progesterone, also improved histological characteristics of the ovary in neonatal rats.

Estrogen Deprivation and Myocardial Infarction: Role of Aerobic Exercise Training, Inflammation and Metabolomics

In general, postmenopausal women present higher mortality, and worse prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI) compared to men, due to estrogen deficiency. After MI, cardiovascular alterations occur such as the autonomic imbalance and the pro-inflammatory cytokines increase. In this sense, therapies that aim to minimize deleterious effects caused by myocardial ischemia are important. Aerobic training has been proposed as a promising intervention in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, some studies have attempted to identify potential biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases or specifically for MI. For this purpose, metabolomics has been used as a tool in the discovery of cardiovascular biomarkers. Therefore, the objective of this work is to discuss the changes involved in ovariectomy, myocardial infarction, and aerobic training, with emphasis on inflammation and metabolism.

Analysis of the levels of inflammatory parameters in persons over the age of 90

Chronic inflammatory conditions resulting from elevated levels of circulating proinflammatory mediators are common in the elderly. The aim of the paper was to analyze the balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in longevous individuals. The study was conducted in persons aged >90 years old, residents of Poland living either at home or staying at residential care facilities. The study included 90 persons (69 women and 21 men) aged between 90 and 103 years. Persons with abnormal CRP presented with a statistical tendency toward higher fibrinogen and lower IL10 and IL-1α levels compared to patients in whom CRP level was within the normal range. IL-6 concentration predicted abnormality within CRP. Inflammation in persons above the age of 90 years old might be linked to abnormal fibrinogen and IL-6 levels.

Effect of Adherence to Physical Exercise on Cardiometabolic Profile in Postmenopausal Women

Background: Menopause is associated with negative cardiovascular adaptations related to estrogen depletion, which could be counteracted by physical exercise (PhE). However, the impact of total adherence-rate (TA) to PhE and sedentary time (SedT) on cardiometabolic profile in this population has not been elucidated. Methods: For 13-weeks, 43 women (57.1 ± 4.7 years) participated in a 4-days-a-week moderate-intensity walking training. They underwent laboratory, anthropometric and echocardiographic assessment, before and after training (T0-T1). Spontaneous physical activity (PhA) was assessed with a portable multisensory device. The sample was divided according to TA to PhE program: <70% (n = 17) and ≥70% (n = 26). Results: TA ≥ 70% group experienced a significant T1 improvement of relative wall thickness (RWT), diastolic function, VO2max, cortisol, cortisol/dehydroandrostenedione-sulphate ratio and serum glucose. After adjusting for SedT and 10-min bouts of spontaneous moderate-to-vigorous PhA, TA ≥ 70% showed the most significant absolute change of RWT and diastolic function, body mass index, weight and cortisol. TA ≥ 70% was major predictor of RWT and cortisol improvement. Conclusions: In a group of untrained, postmenopausal women, a high TA to a 13-weeks aerobic PhE program confers a better improvement in cardiometabolic profile, regardless of SedT and PhA levels.

Exercise training improves vascular function in patients with Alzheimer's disease

PURPOSE

Vascular dysfunction has been demonstrated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Exercise is known to positively affect vascular function. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate exercise-induced effects on vascular function in AD.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with AD (79 ± 8 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to exercise training (EX, n = 20) or control group (CTRL, n = 19). All subjects performed 72 treatment sessions (90 min, 3 t/w). EX included moderate-high-intensity aerobic and strength training. CTRL included cognitive stimuli (visual, verbal, auditive). Before and after the 6-month treatment, the vascular function was measured by passive-leg movement test (PLM, calculating the variation in blood flow: ∆peak; and area under the curve: AUC) tests, and flow-mediated dilation (FMD, %). A blood sample was analyzed for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Arterial blood flow (BF) and shear rate (SR) were measured during EX and CTRL during a typical treatment session.

RESULTS

EX group has increased FMD% (+ 3.725%, p < 0.001), PLM ∆peak (+ 99.056 ml/min, p = 0.004), AUC (+ 37.359AU, p = 0.037) and VEGF (+ 8.825 pg/ml, p = 0.004). In the CTRL group, no difference between pre- and post-treatment was found for any variable. Increase in BF and SR was demonstrated during EX (BF + 123%, p < 0.05; SR + 134%, p < 0.05), but not during CTRL treatment.

CONCLUSION

Exercise training improves peripheral vascular function in AD. These ameliorations may be due to the repetitive increase in SR during exercise which triggers NO and VEGF upregulation. This approach might be included in standard AD clinical practice as an effective strategy to treat vascular dysfunction in this population.

Sex-specific alterations in blood-borne factors in physically inactive individuals are detrimental to endothelial cell functions

Mechanisms underlying the protective effects of both habitual endurance exercise and the female sex on vascular function are incompletely understood. Blood-borne circulating factors, such as circulating microRNAs (ci-miRs), may partially explain these effects. Blood samples were obtained from young, healthy men and women who either habitually performed endurance exercise (endurance trained) or were relatively inactive (sedentary). Women were tested during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle or the placebo pill phase of oral contraceptive to control for estrogen. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to participants' serum in migration, proliferation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify an initial array of 84 cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related ci-miRs, followed by validation of 10 ci-miRs. All participants were devoid of traditional CVD risk factors, and circulating estradiol concentration was not different between groups. Serum of endurance-trained women induced greater HUVEC migration compared with serum of sedentary women. HUVEC ROS production was greater in response to serum of sedentary men compared with serum of endurance-trained men and sedentary women. There were sex effects on the levels of nine ci-miRs, with greater levels in men, while ci-miRs-140-5p and 145-5p were also higher in sedentary compared with endurance-trained men and/or women. In a sex-specific manner, habitual endurance exercise was associated with beneficial effects of serum on HUVECs. Thus, alterations in circulating factors may contribute to the protective effects of habitual endurance exercise on vascular health. Additionally, sex had a greater impact than habitual activity level on the levels of vascular-related ci-miRs.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Serum from sedentary women caused impaired endothelial migration, whereas serum from sedentary men elicited increased endothelial reactive oxygen species production as compared with serum from their endurance-trained counterparts. Select CVD-related circulating microRNAs (ci-miRs) were higher in men than women, while ci-miRs-140-5p and 145-5p were also higher in sedentary versus trained men and/or women. Our data suggest that alterations in circulating factors may contribute to the protective effects of habitual exercise and sex on vascular health.

Effect of Physical Exercise on the Release of Microparticles with Angiogenic Potential

Cellular communication has a fundamental role in both human physiological and pathological states and various mechanisms are involved in the crosstalk between organs. Among these, microparticles (MPs) have an important involvement. MPs are a subtype of extracellular vesicles produced by a variety of cells following activation or apoptosis. They are normally present in physiological conditions, but their concentration varies in pathological states such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, or cancer. Acute and chronic physical exercise are able to modify MPs amounts as well. Among various actions, exercise-responsive MPs affect angiogenesis, the process through which new blood vessels grow from pre-existing vessels. Usually, the neo vascular growth has functional role; but an aberrant neovascularization accompanies several oncogenic, ischemic, or inflammatory diseases. In addition, angiogenesis is one of the key adaptations to physical exercise and training. In the present review, we report evidence regarding the effect of various typologies of exercise on circulating MPs that are able to affect angiogenesis.

The Length and Number of Sedentary Bouts Predict Fibrinogen Levels in Postmenopausal Women

Menopause is associated with adverse changes in coagulation homeostasis. We aimed to investigate the association between objectively measured sedentary behavior (SB) and SB bouts (i.e., number and length of SB bouts) vs. fibrinogen levels in post-menopausal women. Fifty-three post-menopausal women (age 59.8 ± 6.2 years, BMI 27.3 ± 4.4) wore a multisensory device (Sensewear Mini Armband, BodyMedia, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA) for 5 days, to measure SB and physical activity (PA). Blood samples were collected to measure serum fibrinogen. Fibrinogen was directly correlated with SB (r = −0.48, p < 0.01), lying down during awake time (r = −0.50, p < 0.01), and both medium (11–30 mins) and very long bouts (>1 h) of SB (r = −0.59, p < 0.01; r = −0.51, p < 0.01, respectively), and inversely correlated with moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity (r = −0.39, p < 0.01). Furthermore, fibrinogen was also directly correlated with BMI (r = −0.28, p < 0.05). In postmenopausal women without prevalent cardiovascular disease, the number of prolonged and uninterrupted sedentary bouts is directly correlated with increased fibrinogen levels, regardless of PA and BMI. This result suggests the importance of delivering new strategies to counteract the increase of sedentariness and inactivity of the postmenopausal population.

Gender-Specific Differences in Concentrations of Biochemical Parameters in Persons over the Age of 90

The ageing process is a phenomenon leading to an emergence of a web of interrelated biological processes producing significant changes in the human body. The aim of the paper was to analyse gender-specific differences with regard to selected biochemical parameters in longevity. The study was conducted in Poland in 2017. The study population comprised of long-lived individuals, both living at home and staying at residential care homes. There were 90 people of both genders (69 women and 21 men) aged between 90 and 103 years (mean = 92.36; SD = 2.98). The biochemical markers of longevity in the studied patients were identified by assessing their pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory status in various metabolic aspects. The analysis of biochemical variables revealed numerous statistically significant differences, both in the study group as a whole and between the genders. The ageing process is extremely complex, but understanding it will allow for a real intervention in life extension. Research into the processes involved in ageing and longevity will enable a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for them, and to enjoy those processes in good health.

Effects of Menopause on Appetite and the Gastrointestinal System

This article includes a brief literature review and case example to explore the effects of menopause on hormones that influence appetite and the function of the gastrointestinal system. The importance of exercise and diet are discussed, as are implications for nursing practice.

The Effects of Isoflavone Supplementation Plus Combined Exercise on Lipid Levels, and Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Postmenopausal Women

This study tested the effect of isoflavone supplementation in addition to combined exercise training on plasma lipid levels, inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in postmenopausal women. Thirty-two healthy and non-obese postmenopausal women without hormone therapy were randomly assigned to exercise + placebo (PLA; n = 15) or exercise + isoflavone supplementation (ISO; n = 17) groups. They performed 30 sessions of combined exercises (aerobic plus resistance) over ten weeks and consumed 100 mg of isoflavone supplementation or placebo. Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast to analyze the lipid profile, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (FRAP), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), before and after ten weeks of the intervention. There were no differences in the changes (pre vs. post) between groups for any of the inflammatory markers, oxidative stress markers or lipid profile variables. However, interleukin-8 was different between pre- and post-tests (p < 0.001) in both groups (&Delta; = 7.61 and 5.61 pg/mL) as were cholesterol levels (p < 0.05), with no interaction between groups. The combination of isoflavone supplementation and exercise training did not alter oxidative stress markers in postmenopausal women, but exercise training alone may increase IL-8 and decrease total cholesterol levels.