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Menstrual Cycle Phases Influence on Cardiorespiratory Response to Exercise in Endurance-Trained Females. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18030860. [PMID: 33498274 PMCID: PMC7908534 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18030860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of sex hormone fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle on cardiorespiratory response to high-intensity interval exercise in athletes. Twenty-one eumenorrheic endurance-trained females performed an interval running protocol in three menstrual cycle phases: early-follicular phase (EFP), late-follicular phase (LFP) and mid-luteal phase (MLP). It consisted of 8 × 3-min bouts at 85% of their maximal aerobic speed with 90-s recovery at 30% of their maximal aerobic speed. To verify menstrual cycle phase, we applied a three-step method: calendar-based counting, urinary luteinizing hormone measurement and serum hormone analysis. Mixed-linear model for repeated measures showed menstrual cycle impact on ventilatory (EFP: 78.61 ± 11.09; LFP: 76.45 ± 11.37; MLP: 78.59 ± 13.43) and heart rate (EFP: 167.29 ± 11.44; LFP: 169.89 ± 10.62; MLP: 169.89 ± 11.35) response to high-intensity interval exercise (F2.59 = 4.300; p = 0.018 and F2.61 = 4.648; p = 0.013, respectively). Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratio, breathing frequency, energy expenditure, relative perceived exertion and perceived readiness were unaltered by menstrual cycle phase. Most of the cardiorespiratory variables measured appear to be impassive by menstrual cycle phases throughout a high-intensity interval exercise in endurance-trained athletes. It seems that sex hormone fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle are not high enough to disrupt tissues’ adjustments caused by the high-intensity exercise. Nevertheless, HR based training programs should consider menstrual cycle phase.
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Peinado AB, Alfaro-Magallanes VM, Romero-Parra N, Barba-Moreno L, Rael B, Maestre-Cascales C, Rojo-Tirado MA, Castro EA, Benito PJ, Ortega-Santos CP, Santiago E, Butragueño J, García-de-Alcaraz A, Rojo JJ, Calderón FJ, García-Bataller A, Cupeiro R. Methodological Approach of the Iron and Muscular Damage: Female Metabolism and Menstrual Cycle during Exercise Project (IronFEMME Study). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18020735. [PMID: 33561085 PMCID: PMC7831010 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Background: The increase in exercise levels in the last few years among professional and recreational female athletes has led to an increased scientific interest about sports health and performance in the female athlete population. The purpose of the IronFEMME Study described in this protocol article is to determine the influence of different hormonal profiles on iron metabolism in response to endurance exercise, and the main markers of muscle damage in response to resistance exercise; both in eumenorrheic, oral contraceptive (OC) users and postmenopausal well-trained women. Methods: This project is an observational controlled randomized counterbalanced study. One hundered and four (104) active and healthy women were selected to participate in the IronFEMME Study, 57 of which were eumenorrheic, 31 OC users and 16 postmenopausal. The project consisted of two sections carried out at the same time: iron metabolism (study I) and muscle damage (study II). For the study I, the exercise protocol consisted of an interval running test (eight bouts of 3 min at 85% of the maximal aerobic speed), whereas the study II protocol was an eccentric-based resistance exercise protocol (10 sets of 10 repetitions of plate-loaded barbell parallel back squats at 60% of their one repetition maximum (1RM) with 2 min of recovery between sets). In both studies, eumenorrheic participants were evaluated at three specific moments of the menstrual cycle: early-follicular phase, late-follicular phase and mid-luteal phase; OC users performed the trial at two moments: withdrawal phase and active pill phase. Lastly, postmenopausal women were only tested once, since their hormonal status does not fluctuate. The three-step method was used to verify the menstrual cycle phase: calendar counting, blood test confirmation, and urine-based ovulation kits. Blood samples were obtained to measure sex hormones, iron metabolism parameters, and muscle damage related markers. Discussion: IronFEMME Study has been designed to increase the knowledge regarding the influence of sex hormones on some aspects of the exercise-related female physiology. Iron metabolism and exercise-induced muscle damage will be studied considering the different reproductive status present throughout well-trained females’ lifespan. Trial registration The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04458662 on 2 July 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B. Peinado
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Victor M. Alfaro-Magallanes
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Romero-Parra
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Barba-Moreno
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Rael
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Maestre-Cascales
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Rojo-Tirado
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eliane A. Castro
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Conditioning, Faculty of Education, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, 2850 Concepción, Chile
| | - Pedro J. Benito
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Javier Butragueño
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Antonio García-de-Alcaraz
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Jesús J. Rojo
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Calderón
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto García-Bataller
- Department of Sports, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Rocío Cupeiro
- LFE Research Group, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.M.A.-M.); (N.R.-P.); (L.B.-M.); (B.R.); (C.M.-C.); (M.A.R.-T.); (E.A.C.); (P.J.B.); (J.B.); (A.G.-d.-A.); (J.J.R.); (F.J.C.); (R.C.)
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
CONTEXT While a number of studies have researched road-cycling performance, few have attempted to investigate the physiological response in field conditions. PURPOSE To describe the physiological and performance profile of an uphill time trial (TT) frequently used in cycling competitions. METHODS Fourteen elite road cyclists (mean ± SD age 25 ± 6 y, height 174 ± 4.2 cm, body mass 64.4 ± 6.1 kg, fat mass 7.48% ± 2.82%) performed a graded exercise test to exhaustion to determine maximal parameters. They then completed a field-based uphill TT in a 9.2-km first-category mountain pass with a 7.1% slope. Oxygen uptake (VO2), power output, heart rate (HR), lactate concentration, and perceived-exertion variables were measured throughout the field-based test. RESULTS During the uphill TT, mean power output and velocity were 302 ± 7 W (4.2 ± 0.1 W/kg) and 18.7 ± 1.6 km/h, respectively. Mean VO2 and HR were 61.6 ± 2.0 mL · kg-1 · min-1 and 178 ± 2 beats/min, respectively. Values were significantly affected by the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and final kilometers (P < .05). Lactate concentration and perceived exertion were 10.87 ± 1.12 mmol/L and 19.1 ± 0.1, respectively, at the end of the test, being significantly different from baseline measures. CONCLUSION The studied uphill TT is performed at 90% of maximum HR and VO2 and 70% of maximum power output. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study assessing cardiorespiratory parameters combined with measures of performance, perceived exertion, and biochemical variables during a field-based uphill TT in elite cyclists.
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