Pittinger, Elizabeth Smith

Relationships
Member of: Graduate College
Person Preferred Name
Pittinger, Elizabeth Smith
Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
The purpose of this study was to determine if surgically-induced menopause
in younger women affects substrate utilization during submaximal exercise while
controlling for other potential confounds. METHODS: Thirteen untrained female
subjects (33-50 years old) were recruited: oophorectomized (Group O = 5) and
premenopausal controls (Group C = 8). Two separate visits included: body composition
and maximal treadmill exercise test; followed by substrate utilization via open-circuit
spirometry during 45 minutes of treadmill walking at 50% VO2max. RESULTS: When
controlling for multiple variables affecting whole-body substrate utilization (age, VO2max,
physical activity, body composition, fasting glucose, menstrual phase and diet), there was
no difference in substrate utilization between pre- and postmenopausal women as
measured by respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (0.83 ± 0.04 v 0.84 ± 0.03, p=0.47).
CONCLUSIONS: Menopausal status does not appear to have an effect on substrate
utilization during submaximal exercise in younger women.