Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Serum Carnitine and Endurance
                    Performance of Women

Tomoka Matsuda; Tamaki Furuhata; Hazuki Ogata; Kayoko Kamemoto; Mizuki Yamada; Mikako Sakamaki-Sunaga

doi:10.1055/a-1088-5555

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2020; 41(07): 443-449
DOI: 10.1055/a-1088-5555

Physiology & Biochemistry

Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Serum Carnitine and Endurance Performance of Women

Authors

Tomoka Matsuda

¹Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
Tamaki Furuhata

²Department of Exercise Physiology, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
Hazuki Ogata

¹Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
Kayoko Kamemoto

¹Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
Mizuki Yamada

²Department of Exercise Physiology, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
Mikako Sakamaki-Sunaga

²Department of Exercise Physiology, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the menstrual cycle on serum carnitine and the endurance performance of healthy women. Fifteen eumenorrheic women underwent cycle ergometer exercise at 60% maximal oxygen uptake (V̇ O_2max) for 45 min, followed by exercise at an intensity that was increased to 80% V̇ O _2max until exhaustion, during two menstrual cycle phases, including the early follicular phase (FP) and the midluteal phase (LP). The blood levels of estradiol, progesterone, total carnitine, free carnitine, and acylcarnitine were assessed. Compared with the FP, the LP had significantly lower serum total carnitine (p<0.05) and free carnitine (p<0.01). Moreover, the group with decreased endurance performance in the LP than in the FP showed a significantly higher change in serum free carnitine compared with the group that showed improved endurance performance in the LP than in the FP (p<0.05). The results of this study suggested that the changes in serum free carnitine during the menstrual cycle might influence endurance performance.

Key words

estrogen - carnitine - lipid metabolism - early follicular phase - mid luteal phase

Full Text

References

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