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The Effects of Estrogen on Indices of Skeletal Muscle Tissue Damage after Eccentric Exercise in Postmenopausal Women

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Abstract

This study examined if estrogen (E) usage (in the form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)) has a protective effect on skeletal muscle damage in postmenopausal women. Nine postmenopausal women (age 55.2 ± 9.9 [mean ± SD]) performed two exercise sessions at 70% of their maximal heart rate on HRT (E-HI) and without HRT (E-LO; following a 28–45 day HRT washout). All subjects followed a condition order of E-HI and then E-LO with at least 42 days between exercise sessions. Serum creatine kinase (CK), perceived delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and maximal quadriceps isometric force (MIF) were determined before exercise and 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise. E-HI and E-LO conditions produced a rise in CK (p < 0.001) after exercise, but CK after E-HI was greater than in E-LO (p < 0.001) at 24 and 48 h. DOMS was significantly elevated at 24, 48, and 72 h after each exercise session (p < 0.05). The greatest peak DOMS score occurred during the E-HI condition. MIF was similarly reduced after each exercise session (p < 0.05). These results suggest that elevated E does not offer a protective effect to skeletal muscle; however, design limitations (i.e., condition order) confound the present data. Interestingly, an association between peak CK during the E-LO condition and the number of washout days (r = +0.707, p < 0.05) between conditions existed. This suggests that a longer washout period may be necessary to elucidate the actual effects of E on skeletal muscle. These findings suggest that more work on this topic, correcting for the present design limitations, is warranted.

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  1. Endocrine Section, Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    J. D. Dobridge & A. C. Hackney

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  1. J. D. Dobridge
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  2. A. C. Hackney
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Dobridge, J.D., Hackney, A.C. The Effects of Estrogen on Indices of Skeletal Muscle Tissue Damage after Eccentric Exercise in Postmenopausal Women. Human Physiology 30, 462–466 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HUMP.0000036343.54390.0f

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HUMP.0000036343.54390.0f

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