Hormonal and metabolic responses to prolonged exercise in amenorrheic and eumenorrheic athletes

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the importance of menstrual phase and menstrual status (amenorrhea versus eumenorrhea) on the hormonal and metabolic responses to prolonged, aerobic exercise. Six amenorrheic (AMc) and eight eumenorrheic (EUc) athletes were subjected to 90 minutes of treadmill running at 60% of VO$\sb2$ max. The EUc subjects were tested in the early follicular (EF) (day 3-5), late follicular (LF) (day 13-17) and mid-luteal (ML) (day 21-23) phases. Menstrual phase did not influence the pattern of hormonal response of estrogen (E$\sb2$), growth hormone (hGH) or cortisol, whereas, the progesterone (P) response in the ML phase was found to be significantly greater (p$<$.01) than in the EF or LF phases. Further, menstrual status was not found to influence the E$\sb2$, P or hGH response to exercise, but the E$\sb2$ concentrations in the EUc athletes were higher (p$<$.01) in all phases as compared to the AMc athletes. Basal cortisol levels were elevated (p$<$.01) in AMc athletes when compared to all phases of the EUc athletes. Additionally, the pattern of cortisol response to exercise was significantly higher in the AMc as compared to the EF and ML phases of the EUc. Metabolism was found to be independent of menstrual phase and status. It is posited that maintenance of blood glucose and overall homeostasis is of primary importance during prolonged exercise. Modest correlations were found between the hormonal and metabolic variables but these relationships may not be of physiological significance. It was concluded that the change in the hormonal milieu associated with the menstrual cycle does not influence metabolism as reflected in the relative carbohydrate and fat utilization. Amenorrhea influences basal and exercising cortisol levels but amenorrhea does not appear to have a negative influence on other hormonal response or metabolism.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology and Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Kanaley, Jill Ann

• Biology, General
• Biology, Animal Physiology
• Health Sciences, Nutrition

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1989 Kanaley, Jill Ann

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9010908
(UMI)AAI9010908

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/22476