Background: Menopause has been associated with many medical disorders and their pathological consequences. Giving rise to the recent recommendation against hormonal replacement therapy, we were motivated to search for natural safe alternatives as vitamin D (Vit.D) or a non- pharmacological therapy as exercise (Ex). Aim: This study was designed to investigate the potential protective effect of Vit.D and /or Ex on menopause-associated insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension in ovariectomized rats. Methods: 36 adult Wistar albino female rats divided into 6equal groups as follow: Control; Sham; Ovariectomy(Ovx) group; Ex group formed of ovariectomized rats that underwent swimming Ex protocol; Vit.D group formed of ovariectomized rats that were supplemented with Vit.D; Ex + Vit.D group formed of ovariectomized rats that underwent Ex protocol and were supplemented with Vit.D -for 8 weeks- duration of the experiment. Results: Induction of menopause by Ovx resulted in significant increases in glucose, insulin level, insulin resistance index, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, systolic blood pressure and malondialdehyde and associated with significant decreases in high density lipoprotein and superoxide dismutase levels when compared with the control group and Sham group. Moreover, interventions with Vit.D supplementation and/or Ex significantly reversed the aforementioned parameters with better impact of their combination. Conclusion: Either Vit.D or Ex improved the experimental menopause-associated insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and systolic hypertension with documented better effect of their combination. |
