PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR INHIBITOR-1, TISSUE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR,AND FIBRINOGEN - EFFECT OF DIETING WITH OR WITHOUT EXERCISE IN OVERWEIGHT POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

This study assessed the short- and long-term effects of an energy-rest rictive diet with or without exercise on plasminogen activator inhibit or-1 antigen (PAI-1 Ag) and PAI-1 activity, tissue-type plasminogen ac tivator antigen (TPA Ag), and fibrinogen serum levels. Healthy, overwe ight post-menopausal women (age, 53.8+/-2.5 years; body mass index, 25 to 42 kg/m(2); n=121) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control, 4200-kJ/d diet, or 4200-kJ/d diet with combined aerobic and a naerobic exercise. PAI-1 activity and PAI-1 Ag, TPA Ag, and fibrinogen levels were measured at baseline, after a 12-week intervention, and a fter a further 6-month follow-up. PAI-1 Ag and activity and TPA Ag wer e positively correlated with serum triglyceride levels, the abdominal- to-total-body fat ratio (as assessed by total-body dual-energy x-ray a bsorptiometry), fasting blood glucose, and systolic BP and negatively with HDL cholesterol and sex hormone-binding globulin. The diet led to profound decreases and normalization of PAI-1 activity (approximate t o 50%), PAI-1 Ag (approximate to 30%), and TPA Ag (approximate to 29%) , but exercise conferred no additional effect. Fibrinogen did not chan ge. At follow-up there were no longer any significant changes (P>.05). In conclusion, PAI-1 Ag and activity as well as TPA Ag seem to be par t of the metabolic syndrome X. The diet made the blood less thrombogen ic in the short term with no effect of the added exercise.