Resistance training reduced luteinising hormone levels in postmenopausal women in a substudy of a randomised controlled clinical trial: A clue to how resistance training reduced vasomotor symptoms

Abstract

Background Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are common around menopause. Menopausal hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for VMS. Physical exercise has been proposed as an alternative treatment since physically active women have previously been found to experience fewer VMS than inactive women. In our randomised controlled trial on resistance training to treat VMS, sympoms were reduced by 50% in the intervention group compared with the control group. Objectives To propose a mechanism to explain how resistance training reduced VMS and to assess if luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were affected in accordance with the proposed mechanism. Trial design and methods A substudy of a randomized controlled trial on 65 postmenopausal women with VMS and low physical activity who were randomised to 15 weeks of resistance training three times per week (n = 33) or to a control group (n = 32). To be regarded compliant to the intervention we predecided a mean of two training sessions per week. The daily number of VMS were registered before and during the 15 weeks. Blood samples were drawn for analysis of LH and FSH at baseline and after 15 weeks. Results LH decreased significantly in the compliant intervention group compared with the control group (-4.0±10.6 versus 2.9±9.0, p = 0.028 with Mann-Whitney U test). FSH also decreased in the compliant intervention group compared with the control group, however not enough to reach statistical significance (-3.5±16.3 versus 3.2±18.2, p = 0.063 with Mann-Whitney U test). As previously published the number of hot flushes decreased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group but there was no association between change in LH or FSH and in number of VMS. Conclusions We propose that endogenous opiods such as β-endorphin or dynorphin produced during resistance training decreased VMS by stimulating KNDγ-neurons to release neurokinin B to the hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre. Through effects on KNDγ-neurons, β-endorphin could also inhibit GnRH and thereby decrease the production of LH and FSH. The significanty decreased LH in the compliant intervention group compared with the control group was in accordance with the proposed mechanism.

A Saúde da Mulher é pouco abordada nos cursos de educação física?

“…Os sintomas vasomotores (ondas de calor e sudorese) afetam 60 a 80% das mulheres nesta fase (JAEGER, MINÁ et al, 2020). Os sintomas são facilmente controlados com o aumento das atividades físicas (PROBO, SOARES et al, 2016) ou a realização de exercício físicos (NILSSON, HENRIKSSON et al, 2022). VASCONCELOS et al, 2016) e no pós-parto, com o parto vaginal (HUTTON, HANNAH et al, 2018).…”

Neurokinin 1/3 receptor antagonists for menopausal women: A current systematic review and insights into the investigational non-hormonal therapy

“…[62,80] The data provides insights into the potential hypothalamic effects of peripheral administration of NK3R antagonists to counteract heat dissipation responses seen among women experiencing hot flushes. [81–85] Clinically, NT-814 can reduce nighttime awakenings among women by 81% as reported by Trower et al in their 2020 trial. [44] There are variabilities in the first appearance of symptomatic benefit, where Trower reported benefits after the first dose and persistence for up to 2 weeks.…”

Impact of 3 months of detraining after high intensity exercise on menopause-related symptoms in early postmenopausal women – results of the randomized controlled actlife project

“…Although exercise-induced changes of estradiol (E2)-levels [ 22 ] were considerably lower compared to HRT-induced changes, the cessation of high intensity exercise and corresponding reductions of E2-levels could provide a contribution to the physiological explanation of our findings. Further, increases in ß-endorphins triggered by intense exercise significantly reduced LH and FSH levels in women with vasomotor symptoms [ 23 ]. Consequently, lower LH and FSH might result in lower vasomotor symptoms during menopause [ 23 ].…”

“…Further, increases in ß-endorphins triggered by intense exercise significantly reduced LH and FSH levels in women with vasomotor symptoms [ 23 ]. Consequently, lower LH and FSH might result in lower vasomotor symptoms during menopause [ 23 ]. This interaction could be an explanation for the significant effects of training and detraining on somato-vegetative symptoms observed in the present study.…”