Estradiol effects on the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis in amenorrheic athletes

Debra L. Waters, Richard I. Dorin, Clifford R. Qualls, Brent C. Ruby, Richard N. Baumgartner, Robert A. Robergs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Disruption of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis has been reported and studied in menopause, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and anorexia nervosa, but not in weight-stable amenorrheic athletes. We investigated the effects of short-term transdermal estradiol on basal and exercise-stimulated serum GH, IGF-1, and associated binding proteins (IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3) in seven weight-stable female amenorrheic athletes with percentage body fats greater that 12%. Each subject received a 72h placebo patch followed by 144h of transdermal estradiol. Serum samples for GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3 were obtained at baseline (t1), 72hr (t2), 144hr (t3), and during three 90-minute trials of aerobic exercise. Basal, and exercise GH, 1GF-1, and IGFBP-1 were not different between trials. Baseline IGFBP-3 decreased from t1 to t2 (p = 0.04) and serum free fatty acids increased from t1 to t2, and t1 to t3 (p = 0.04, and 0.02 respectively). These findings differ from postmenopausal women, and women having weightloss-associated amenorrhea, suggesting that estrogen, exercise, and nutritional deficiencies may have independent effects on the GH/IGF-1 axis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)64-78
Number of pages15
JournalCanadian Journal of Applied Physiology
Volume28
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2003

Keywords

  • Free fatty acids
  • Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1
  • Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3
  • Transdermal estradiol

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