Table 1.

Summary of randomized controlled trials of long-term exercise that studied estrogen changes in cancer-free, postmenopausal women

Trial name/reference, country	Sample sizea	Study participants	Intervention arm prescription	Comparison group(s)
Figueroa et al., 2003, USA [37]	n = 24 EX; n = 28 CTL	• Mean body fat, 39 %; mean body weight, 67–71 kg • Inactive • No HRT use (HRT users analyzed separately) • Age 40–65 yr; mean, 57 yr	• 12 mo • 60–75 min/day, 3 days/wk, supervised • Resistance and weight-bearing aerobic exercise • 7 resistance exercises, 2 sets @ 70-80 % 1-RM + 25 min aerobic exercise @ 50-80 % HRmax	Maintained usual level of physical activity
Copeland et al., 2004, Canada [31]	n = 8 EX; n = 8 CTL	• Mean BMI 26 kg/m2 (EX); 32 kg/m2 (CTL) • No regular exercise in past year • No HRT use (HRT users analyzed separately) • Mean age, 54 yr	• 12 wk • 3 days/wk, supervised • Resistance training • By 1 month, progressed to 8 exercises @ 3 sets,10 repetitions each	Flexibility exercises 3 days/wk, unsupervised
Physical Activity for Total Health Study, USA [35]	n = 87 EX; n = 86 CTL	• BMI 25–40 kg/m2, mean 30 kg/m2; body fat >33 % • Previously <60 min/week exercise that caused sweating • No hormone use past 6 mo • Age 50–75 yr; mean, 61 yr • 86 % non-Hispanic white	• 12 mo • 45 min/day, 5 days/wk (supervised and home-based) • Aerobic exercise • 60-75 % HRmax by wk 8	Stretching controls
Orsatti et al., 2008, Brazil [39]	n = 22 EX; n = 21 CTL	• Mean BMI 28–29 kg/m2, mean body fat 33-36 % • No previous leisure activity besides household • No hormone therapy past 6 mo • Age 40–70 yr; mean, 58–59 yr	• 16 wk preceded by 4-wk low-load adaptation period • 50–60 min/day, 3 days/week, supervised • Resistance training • 8 exercises @ 3 sets, 8–12 repetitions each, 60-80 % 1-RM	Asked not to change exercise habits
Sex Hormones and Physical Exercise (SHAPE) study, the Netherlands [34]	n = 96 EX; n = 93 CTL	• BMI 22–40 kg/m2, mean 27 kg/m2; mean body fat 40-41 % • <2 hr/wk moderate sport/recreational activity and not adherent to international physical activity recommendations • No HRT use past 6 mo • Age 50–69 yr; mean, 58–59 yr	• 12 mo • 60 min/day, 2 days/wk supervised group session + 30 min/week home-based individual session • Supervised sessions: aerobic (20 min @ 60-85 % HRmax) and strength training (25 min) + warm-up, cool-down • Home-based sessions: brisk walking or cycling @ 60-80 % HRmax (30 min)	Asked to retain habitual exercise patterns
Alberta Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention (ALPHA) trial, Canada [32]	n = 160 EX; n = 160 CTL	• BMI 22–40 kg/m2, mean 29 kg/m2 • <90 min/wk recreational activity or if between 90–120 min/wk had maximal oxygen uptake <34.5 mL/kg/min • No hormone use • Age 50–74 yr; mean, 61 yr • 91 % white race	• 12 mo • 45 min/day, 5 days/wk (supervised and home-based) • Aerobic exercise, mainly walking or cycling • At least half of each workout @ 70-80 % heart rate reserve; achieved by wk 12	Maintained usual level of activity
Yoo et al., 2010, South Korea [33]	n = 11 EX; n = 10 CTL	• Mean BMI, 25–27 kg/m2 • No hormone use • Age >65 yr; mean age 71 yr	• 12 wk • 60 min/day, 3 days/wk, supervised • 45-min walking with two 1-kg ankle weights; 10-min warm-up + 5-min cool-down	Asked to maintain usual physical activity routine
Kim et al., 2012, South Korea [38]	n = 15 EX; n = 15 CTL	• Mean BMI, 25 kg/m2; >32 % body fat, mean 36 % • <20 min exercise twice weekly • No hormone use • Mean age 54 yr	• 16 wk • 60 min/day, 3 days/wk, supervised • Aerobic exercise • Line dancing, attained 70-80 % HRmax by wk 12	No exercise
Nutrition and Exercise for Women (NEW) Trial, USA [36••]	n = 117 EX; n = 87 CTL; n = 118 DIET; n = 117 DIET + EX	• BMI >25.0 kg/m2, mean 30.9 kg/m2, mean body fat 47.2 % • Moderate-intensity physical activity <100 min/week • No hormone use past 3 months • Age 50–75 yr; mean, 58 yr • 85 % non-Hispanic white	• 12 mo • ≥ 45 min/day, 5 days/wk (3 supervised and 2 home-based) • Aerobic exercise with metabolic equivalent ≥ 4 •70-85 % HRmax for 45 min by wk 7	1)Reduced-calorie weight loss diet 2)Combined reduced-calorie weight loss diet + aerobic exercise 3)Requested not to change exercise or dietary habits

EX, exercise group; CTL, control group

^aSample size at baseline, as reported for estrogen analysis [32, 34, 35, 36••]