Introduction and purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a period of aerobic exercise combined with vitamin C supplementation on the lipoprotein subparticle profile in overweight menopausal women. Given the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in this population, identifying effective strategies to improve lipid-related risk factors is of great importance.
Methodology: This semi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design. The statistical population consisted of menopausal women aged 45 to 55 years from Tehran with a body mass index between 25 and 30 kg/m². Forty participants were purposively selected and randomly assigned into four groups: aerobic exercise, vitamin C, aerobic exercise combined with vitamin C, and placebo (each group with 10 participants). Research variables were measured 24 hours before and after the final exercise session.
Results: Findings revealed that after eight weeks of aerobic exercise combined with vitamin C supplementation, both small and large high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles significantly increased, while small and large low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles significantly decreased (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: The results indicate that eight weeks of aerobic exercise alongside vitamin C intake can induce significant positive changes in the lipid profile of overweight menopausal women and effectively reduce cardiovascular risk factors in this group. These findings highlight the importance of combining regular physical activity with antioxidant supplementation to enhance cardiovascular health in menopausal women.