Limb vascular function in women: Effects of female sex hormones and physical activity

TY - JOUR

T1 - Limb vascular function in women

T2 - Effects of female sex hormones and physical activity

AU - Hellsten, Ylva

AU - Gliemann, Lasse

N1 - CURIS 2018 NEXS 150

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Throughout life, women are subjected to both acute fluctuations in sex hormones, associated with the menstrual cycle, and chronic changes following the onset of menopause. Female sex hormones, and in particular estrogen, strongly influence cardiovascular function such as the regulation of vascular tone and oxidative stress and thereby functions such as oxygen delivery and blood pressure. The acute hormonal fluctuations do not substantially impact health, but their influence should be considered with regard to measurements of vascular function. The chronic hormonal change with menopause strongly impacts the vasculature and markedly increases the risk of cardiovascular events. Physical activity activates signaling pathways also triggered by estrogen; therefore, exercise training could be an effective means of reducing the deleterious effects of estrogen loss at menopause. However, findings are divergent with some reporting marked improvements in vascular health with physical activity and others showing lower gains compared to age‐matched males. Potential explanations for this discrepancy in findings are timing after menopause and training mode, aspects that should be further addressed in future studies. Physical activity should be recommended for women of all ages, but the most essential timing for maintenance of vascular health may be from menopause and onwards.

AB - Throughout life, women are subjected to both acute fluctuations in sex hormones, associated with the menstrual cycle, and chronic changes following the onset of menopause. Female sex hormones, and in particular estrogen, strongly influence cardiovascular function such as the regulation of vascular tone and oxidative stress and thereby functions such as oxygen delivery and blood pressure. The acute hormonal fluctuations do not substantially impact health, but their influence should be considered with regard to measurements of vascular function. The chronic hormonal change with menopause strongly impacts the vasculature and markedly increases the risk of cardiovascular events. Physical activity activates signaling pathways also triggered by estrogen; therefore, exercise training could be an effective means of reducing the deleterious effects of estrogen loss at menopause. However, findings are divergent with some reporting marked improvements in vascular health with physical activity and others showing lower gains compared to age‐matched males. Potential explanations for this discrepancy in findings are timing after menopause and training mode, aspects that should be further addressed in future studies. Physical activity should be recommended for women of all ages, but the most essential timing for maintenance of vascular health may be from menopause and onwards.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Blood vessel

KW - Estrogen

KW - Exercise

KW - Nitric oxide

KW - Prostacyclin

U2 - 10.1002/tsm2.3

DO - 10.1002/tsm2.3

M3 - Review

SN - 2573-8488

VL - 1

SP - 14

EP - 24

JO - Translational Sports Medicine

JF - Translational Sports Medicine

IS - 1

ER -