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Nutritional Strategies and Sex Hormone Interactions in Women

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Sex Hormones, Exercise and Women

Abstract

A number of nutrients, foods and supplements have the potential to augment health, exercise performance and/or recovery, particularly in women, due to fluctuation of sex hormones, or reductions thereof. Some of these for which significant amounts of research have provided evidence include:

CHO loading can overcome lower resting muscle glycogen in the follicular phase but an increase in total energy intake may be required.

Pre-exercise feeding and/or CHO ingestion can negate effects of the oestrogen-induced reduction in gluconeogenesis during endurance exercise.

Increased protein during recovery may help offset the increase in protein catabolism in the luteal phase.

Special attention to not overhydrate and replace sodium losses in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle may help reduce the increased risk of hyponatraemia that is due to differences in fluid and electrolyte handing and thirst in this phase.

Supplementing with dietary sources of antioxidants may be prudent in those with amenorrhoea or in menopause and, thus, low oestrogen, as oestrogen enhances antioxidant capacity. However, this may not fully compensate for lack of oestrogen.

Fish oil (omega-3 fatty acid source) may aid in inflammatory disorders such as dysmenorrhoea and those associated with menopause.

Vitamin D and calcium influence fertility, possibly dysmenorrhoea, as well as bone health; however, supplementation cannot fully compensate for lack of oestrogen.

Branched chain amino acid oxidation may be greater when oestrogen is low; this may have dietary implications for those with amenorrhoea or in menopause, particularly when training regularly and or on low energy diets.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr James D. Cotter for his insightful suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical Education Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, 46 Union St West, Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, Otago, New Zealand

    Nancy J. Rehrer B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, Otago, New Zealand

    Rebecca T. McLay-Cooke B.Ph.Ed., B.Sc., M.Sc.

  3. Health, Sport and Human Performance, University of Waikato, 52 Miro Street, Adams Centre for High Performance, Mount Maunganui, 3116, New Zealand

    Stacy T. Sims B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D.

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  1. Nancy J. Rehrer B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D.
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  2. Rebecca T. McLay-Cooke B.Ph.Ed., B.Sc., M.Sc.
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  3. Stacy T. Sims B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Nancy J. Rehrer B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D. .

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  1. Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Anthony C. Hackney

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Rehrer, N.J., McLay-Cooke, R.T., Sims, S.T. (2017). Nutritional Strategies and Sex Hormone Interactions in Women. In: Hackney, A. (eds) Sex Hormones, Exercise and Women. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44558-8_6

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