This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 90/6/3312    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Day, D. S. Articles by Kohrt, W. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Day, D. S. Articles by Kohrt, W. M. Related Collections Endocrine Oncology Obesity

Sex Hormone Suppression Reduces Resting Energy Expenditure and ß-Adrenergic Support of Resting Energy Expenditure

Division of Geriatric Medicine (D.S.D., W.S.G., R.E.V.P., R.S.S., W.M.K.), University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262; and Department of Integrative Physiology (D.S.D., R.S.S., W.M.K.), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Wendy Kohrt, Division of Geriatric Medicine, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, B179, Denver, Colorado 80262. E-mail: wendy.kohrt{at}uchsc.edu.

Resting energy expenditure (REE) decreases with aging and may decrease in women as a result of the menopause, potentially contributing to weight gain. REE has been observed to fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, suggesting regulation by sex hormones. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of suppressing estrogen and progesterone on REE. Fourteen premenopausal women, 29 ± 5 yr old (mean ± SD), were studied in the midluteal menstrual phase (ML) and after 6 d of GnRH antagonist therapy (GnRHant) administered in the follicular menstrual phase. REE was measured by indirect calorimetry in the morning after a 12-h fast and again during ß-adrenergic blockade to determine sympathetic nervous system (SNS) support of REE. Treatment with GnRHant significantly decreased REE (1405 ± 42 vs. 1334 ± 36 kcal/d, mean ± SE, ML vs. GnRHant; P = 0.002). Additionally, SNS blockade tended to alter REE more during ML than during GnRHant (–19 ± 10 vs. 5 ± 11 kcal/d; P = 0.14). Suppression of sex hormones to postmenopausal levels by GnRHant reduced REE in young healthy women. These findings suggest that the withdrawal of estrogen and/or progesterone attenuates REE, possibly through a SNS-mediated mechanism.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Brown Skeletal muscle and bone: effect of sex steroids and aging Advan Physiol Educ, June 1, 2008; 32(2): 120 - 126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. B. Heymsfield, D. Childers, J. Beetsch, D. B. Allison, and A. Pietrobelli Body size and human energy requirements: reduced mass-specific resting energy expenditure in tall adults J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2007; 103(5): 1543 - 1550. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Wierman and W. M. Kohrt Review Article: Vascular and Metabolic Effects of Sex Steroids: New Insights Into Clinical Trials Reproductive Sciences, May 1, 2007; 14(4): 300 - 314. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Sunday, C. Osuna, D. N. Krause, and S. P. Duckles Age alters cerebrovascular inflammation and effects of estrogen Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2007; 292(5): H2333 - H2340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Sergi, A. Coin, S. Mulone, E. Castegnaro, V. Giantin, E. Manzato, L. Busetto, E. M. Inelmen, S. Marin, and G. Enzi Resting Energy Expenditure and Body Composition in Bedridden Institutionalized Elderly Women With Advanced-Stage Pressure Sores J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., March 1, 2007; 62(3): 317 - 322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Sunday, M. M. Tran, D. N. Krause, and S. P. Duckles Estrogen and progestagens differentially modulate vascular proinflammatory factors Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 2006; 291(2): E261 - E267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]