Menstrual cycle and exercise effects on protein catabolism.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether exercise at different times of the menstrual cycle alters protein catabolism. Nine women exercised for 60 min at 70% VO2max when serum estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) were low (menses) and when both were high [mid-luteal (ML)]. Diet was reproduced on both occasions. Serum urea nitrogen (N), E, and P were analyzed at rest, after 15, 30, 45, and 60 min of exercise, and 15 min into recovery. Sweat urea N excretion was also determined. Urinary area N excretion was measured the day before, the day of, and 2 d following exercise. E and P were significantly greater in the ML phase, and this difference was maintained throughout exercise (P less than 0.05). No change was seen in serum urea N across exercise or between phases. Both exercise day urinary urea N excretion and total urea N excretion in sweat and urine, when added across all experimental days, were significantly greater in the ML phase compared to menses (8.5 +/- 0.96 vs 5.5 +/- 0.81 g and 24.8 +/- 2.38 vs 19.3 +/- 1.38 g, respectively, P less than 0.05). The data suggest that the greater protein use in the ML phase was due to the combined effects of exercise, a changing hormonal milieu and other unknown causes.