Basal oxygen consumption during different phases of menstrual cycle

Basal oxygen consumption was measured serially in 32 women aged 17 to 28 yr, during the menstrual, follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, using Benedict-Roth Metabolism Apparatus. The mean (+/- SD) total body oxygen consumption was found to be 166.54 +/- 13.904, 166.24 +/- 13.688 and 176.51 +/- 14.780 ml/min during the menstrual, follicular and luteal phases respectively. The oxygen consumption was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in the luteal phase as compared to the other two phases whereas it was almost identical in the menstrual and follicular phases. The rise in oxygen consumption was found to be a post-ovulatory phenomenon possibly mediated through hormones, mainly progesterone. This rise in oxygen consumption was mainly metabolic and related to the pattern of food intake behaviour during the menstrual cycle.