The effect of menopausal status on substrate utilization in younger women during submaximal exercise

• Main Author: Pittinger, Elizabeth Smith
• Language: EN
• Published: Florida Atlantic University 2016
• Subjects: Aging|Kinesiology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10096030

<p> PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if surgically-induced menopause in younger women affects substrate utilization during submaximal exercise while controlling for other potential confounds. METHODS: Thirteen untrained female subjects (33-50 years old) were recruited: oophorectomized (Group O = 5) and premenopausal controls (Group C = 8). Two separate visits included: body composition and maximal treadmill exercise test; followed by substrate utilization via open-circuit spirometry during 45 minutes of treadmill walking at 50% VO_2max. RESULTS: When controlling for multiple variables affecting whole-body substrate utilization (age, VO_2max, physical activity, body composition, fasting glucose, menstrual phase and diet), there was no difference in substrate utilization between pre- and postmenopausal women as measured by respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (0.83 &plusmn; 0.04 v 0.84 &plusmn; 0.03, <i>p</i>=0.47). CONCLUSIONS: Menopausal status does not appear to have an effect on substrate utilization during submaximal exercise in younger women.</p>