Influence of the menstrual cycle phases on exercise-indeced bronchospasm and its effect on exercise performance

Date

2012-05

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Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to determine the influence of the menstrual cycle phases on sex differences in EIB and exercise performance. Twenty-six adults (18-35 yrs) with EIB were recruited in the study. Data analysis was performed in 7 women and 7 men who exhibited evidence of EIB (>10% drop in FEV1) during at least one visit. Women were tested once during the early follicular phase and once during the mid-luteal phase. Participants performed pulmonary function tests pre- and post- maximal treadmill exercise. Exercise ventilation at 95% maximal heart rate was similar between men and women across menstrual cycle phases (men: 67.80 ± 17.35%MVV vs. early follicular phase: 78.59 ± 21.59%MVV vs. mid-luteal phase: 83.23 ± 26.39%MVV, p > .05). No group differences were also found for time to exhaustion (men: 676.71 ± 96.9s vs. early follicular phase: 621.57 ± 133.5s vs. mid-luteal phase: 645.14 ± 91.0s; p > .05) and peak oxygen uptake phases (men: 47.62 ± 5.78 ml/kg/min vs. early follicular: 43.44 ± 5.57 ml/kg/min vs. mid-luteal: 42.59 ± 3.90 ml/kg/min; p > .05). The peak percent drop in FEV1, FVC, PEF, and FEF25-75% following exercise were similar (p > .05) between men and women across menstrual cycle phases. Interestingly, post hoc analysis showed an inverse association between estimated airway size at rest and the post-exercise change in FEV1 (R2 = .58, p < .05). In conclusion, this study showed that menstrual cycle phase does not influence EIB occurrence and severity or present sex differences in EIB. Furthermore, exercise performance was also not found to differ across the menstrual cycle. More studies are needed to investigate the relationship between airway size and EIB in women and men.

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Keywords

Asthma, exercise-induced, Menstrual cycle, Follicular phase, Luteal phase

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