Document Type
Article
Abstract
Previous research supports the role of 17-β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in altering lipid oxidation (LOx) rates during aerobic exercise, but it has yet to be determined if LOx is altered between menstrual cycle (MC) phases following strength training (STR). This study examined post-exercise LOx rates in eumenorrheic females, following a bout of STR during the early-follicular phase (EFP) and mid-luteal phase (MLP). Twenty-two (age: 25.1 ± 5.7, BMI: 24.5 ± 2.7) well-trained females completed a repetition maximum (RM) test for the back squat, bench press, and deadlift. Five sets of 3 repetitions at 80-85% 1RM of each exercise were performed during the first 5 days of the participants’ EFP and calculated MLP. Metabolic testing occurred at baseline (BL) and again immediately post, 30-, 60-, and 90-min post-exercise. Despite expected hormonal differences in E2 (EFP = 1.53 ± 0.58 pg/mL; MLP = 1.88 ± 0.48 pg/mL) and P4 (EFP = 230.51 ± 152.55 pg/mL; MLP = 545.22 ± 295.72 pg/mL), there were no differences in LOx at any timepoint between MC phase (p>0.05). However, STR increased absolute LOx rates by ~49% compared to BL across the entire metabolic collection period (p < 0.05), with the highest LOx rates recorded at 60-min post-exercise (0.077 ± 0.016 g·min⁻¹, p< 0.001). These findings suggest that STR effectively enhances LOx rates in well-trained, eumenorrheic females post-exercise, regardless of MC phase. This highlights the potential of STR to enhance post-exercise LOx across the MC.
Publication Date
2025
Recommended Citation
Tinsley, Hunter; Parten, Alyssa L.; Smith-Ryan, Abbie E.; O'Neal, Eric K.; Lyons, T Scott; and Waldman, Hunter S., "Acute strength training, not menstrual cycle phase, increases lipid oxidation rates following exercise in well-trained, eumenorrheic females." (2025). Kinesiology. 14.
https://roar.una.edu/kinesiology/14
