Oral estrogen therapy may mitigate the effects of aerobic training on cardiorespiratory fitness in postmenopausal women: a double-blind, randomized clinical pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the isolated and associated effects of oral estrogen therapy and aerobic training on cardiorespiratory fitness in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Forty-two hysterectomized healthy postmenopausal women were randomly divided (in a double-blind manner) into four groups: placebo-control (n = 9), estrogen therapy-control (n = 12), placebo-aerobic training (PLA-AT; n = 11), and estrogen therapy-aerobic training (ET-AT; n = 10). The estrogen therapy groups received estradiol valerate (1 mg/day) and the aerobic training groups trained on a cycle ergometer three times per week at moderate intensity. Before and 6 months after the interventions, all women underwent a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer.


RESULTS
Regardless of hormone therapy, aerobic training increased oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (P = 0.001), oxygen uptake at respiratory compensation point (P = 0.043), and oxygen uptake at peak exercise (P = 0.020). The increases at respiratory compensation point and peak exercise were significantly greater in the groups receiving placebo than in the groups receiving estrogen (oxygen uptake at respiratory compensation point: PLA-AT +5.3 [2.8] vs ET-AT +3.0 [2.5] mL kg(-1) min(-1), P = 0.04; oxygen uptake at peak exercise: PLA-AT +5.8 [3.4] vs ET-AT +2.8 [1.4] mL kg(-1) min(-1), P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Oral estrogen therapy may mitigate the cardiorespiratory fitness increase induced by aerobic training in hysterectomized healthy postmenopausal women.
From the 1Exercise Hemodynamic Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Center for Sport and Physical Education, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil; and 3Gynecology and Climacteric Service and 4Hypertension Unit, General Hospital, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Crivaldo Gomes
CG
Cardoso
Fábio Leandro
FL
Medina
Luiz Gustavo
LG
Pinto
Bruna
B
Oneda
Luiz Augusto Riani
LA
Costa
Eliana
E
Labes
Sandra Baliero
SB
Abrahão
Taís
T
Tinucci
Décio
D
Mion
Angela Maggio
AM
Fonseca
Cláudia Luica
CL
de Moraes Forjaz
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause
D010919:Placebos; D004958:Estradiol