A meta-analysis of 32 studies in postmenopausal women found aerobic, resistance and combined exercise training reduced inflammatory markers IL-6, TNF-alpha and CRP, and increased adiponectin, versus control.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,510 participants pooled · 2021PostmenopausalCited 58 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 23 trials in 1001 postmenopausal women found concurrent aerobic and resistance training modestly improved body composition and metabolic markers, with no significant change in inflammation markers.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 1,001 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
A network meta-analysis of 39 trials in postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity found resistance training lowered CRP most, combined training lowered IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and leptin did not change.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,714 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
In obese postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, 16 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance exercise reduced adipose tissue inflammatory markers and improved body composition versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 16 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 99 timesPubMed
Overweight postmenopausal women did 6 months of resistance and aerobic exercise with or without soy isoflavones; exercise reduced fat mass and increased lean mass, with no added benefit from isoflavones.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 100 women · 26 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 65 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors did 3 months of walking plus resistance band training; fatigue effect sizes were small and not statistically significant, with inflammatory markers mediating change.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 46 women · 12 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 70 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors did 3 months of walking and resistance band training; the exercise group reported fewer hours of sleep per night versus control, mediated by inflammation and fatigue.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 46 women · 12 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 47 timesPubMed
Overweight postmenopausal women followed a calorie restricted diet with or without combined aerobic and anaerobic exercise for 12 weeks, and diet reduced clotting-related blood markers with no added effect from exercise.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 121 women · 12 weeks · 1996PostmenopausalCited 52 timesPubMed
Obese postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of HIIT or combined training three times weekly, and HIIT reduced visceral fat more and increased interleukin-6 compared to combined training.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women at high risk of type 2 diabetes, 12 weeks of high-intensity bodyweight training and combined aerobic-resistance training both improved muscle mass, walk test performance and insulin resistance, but only combined training increased strength.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 16 women · 12 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 37 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did exercise plus Mediterranean diet, with or without soy isoflavones, for 24 months; the soy group showed greater drops in fat mass, glucose, insulin and inflammation markers.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 104 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 10 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training with or without isoflavone supplement; exercise alone was linked to lower total cholesterol and higher IL-8, with no added effect of isoflavone.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 32 women · 10 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 27 timesPubMed
Obese postmenopausal women did 6 months of mixed exercise training with or without phytoestrogens, and both groups had reduced CRP and leptin, with no added benefit from phytoestrogens.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 52 women · 26 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 28 timesPubMed
Overweight or obese postmenopausal women did 6 months of mixed exercise with isoflavone supplement or placebo; the isoflavone group showed greater reductions in fat mass and CRP inflammation than exercise alone.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 34 women · 26 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed
Obese postmenopausal women who did 20 weeks of combined aerobic and strength exercise showed reduced inflammatory marker TNF-alpha, with effects differing by dyslipidemia status.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 70 women · 20 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women did 4 months of concurrent aerobic and resistance training; the exercise group showed lower LDL cholesterol than a counseling-only group.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 150 women · 16 weeks · 2018PerimenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
In 85 inactive postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, a home-based dual-task exercise program improved executive function, physical performance and HDL, and reduced IL-10 and TNF, but did not change diabetes indices overall.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 85 women · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Obese postmenopausal women did 20 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training and showed reduced body fat, increased lean mass, and reduced TNF-alpha compared with non-exercisers.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 70 women · 20 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed
A review reported that combined diet and aerobic plus strength exercise programmes showed promise for weight control and improved quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
Reported an improvementOther · 2012Midlife womenCited 162 timesPubMed
In overweight or obese postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance exercise training improved circulating immune cell frequency and mobilization compared with education alone.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 12 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalPubMed
Breast cancer survivors will do resistance and aerobic exercise with omega-3 supplementation or education for 12 to 24 weeks to test effects on lean body mass; this is a study protocol with no results yet.
Direction not statedOther · 153 women · 24 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 12 timesPubMed