Effects of estrogen replacement therapy on dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol responses to exercise in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), and cortisol (F) responses to treadmill exercise.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Female volunteers in an academic research environment.


METHODS
Sixteen healthy, postmenopausal women (7 were receiving HRT, 9 were not).


METHODS
Blood samples were taken from an intravenous catheter before, during, and after 30 minutes of treadmill exercise following an overnight fast. A second session was conducted one month later for the same subjects using the same blood sampling protocol without exercise.


METHODS
Serum DHEA, DHEAS, and F concentrations.


RESULTS
The HRT and untreated DHEA area under the curve (AUC) for the exercise trials was significantly greater than that for the control trials. The untreated, but not the HRT, DHEAS AUC for the exercise trials was significantly greater than that for the control trials. The HRT and untreated F AUC for the exercise trials was significantly greater than that for the control trials. The AUC for the HRT exercise trials was significantly higher than the untreated exercise trials for DHEA and F, but not DHEAS.


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggest that treadmill exercise elevates DHEA, DHEAS, and F levels in postmenopausal women and that HRT enhances the DHEA and F responses.
Johnson
L G
LG
Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, USA.
Kraemer
R R
RR
Haltom
R
R
Kraemer
G R
GR
Gaines
H E
HE
Castracane
V D
VD
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007700:Kinetics; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010953:Plasma Volume; D017698:Postmenopause
D019344:Lactic Acid; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone