Gender and fat metabolism during exercise: a review.
We examined the evidence for greater fat utilization by women during exercise and the potential gender differences in specific cellular processes. Results from well-controlled studies show that, compared to men, women oxidize more fat during submaximal exercise, resulting in the relative sparing of muscle glycogen. Mature female rats use less muscle glycogen during running and can run longer than male counterparts. Circulating estrogen is critical to these observations, as shown by studies where male rats were treated with estrogen. Estrogen-treated male rats use less muscle glycogen during exercise and can run longer than untreated males. The cellular mechanisms and factors underlying these findings are unknown and certainly multifactorial. We offer some information that, unfortunately, does not lead to any natural conclusion. However, this area is certainly ripe for research.
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Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston, TX 77204, USA.
Holtz
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D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D012119:Respiration; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D005227:Fatty Acids; D006003:Glycogen