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Published on: April 7, 2014
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Ovarian Suppression in Premenopausal Women: No Change in Free-Living Energy
Kathleen M Gavin1,2, Edward L Melanson1,2,3, Kerry L Hildreth1
1Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether suppression of ovarian function (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist [GnRHAG ]) for 24 weeks in premenopausal women approaching menopause causes changes in body composition and a decline in free-living physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) and whether endurance exercise training attenuates the changes.
Methods:
Premenopausal women who were approaching menopause (mean [SD]: age 46 [3] years, BMI 26.3 [4.8] kg/m2 ) were randomized to 24 weeks of GnRHAG (n = 14), GnRHAG + Exercise (n = 11), or placebo (n = 9). Endurance exercise was performed 4 days per week with the goal of expending 200 to 300 kcal per session. Primary outcome measurements included body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), and PAEE by doubly labeled water, and resting energy expenditure (REE) by indirect calorimetry.
Results:
Changes in TDEE, PAEE, REE, or body composition were not different between groups. However, within the GnRHAG group, fat mass increased (mean [SE]: total 1.7 [0.4] kg, trunk 0.9 [0.2] kg, leg 0.6 [0.2] kg) and fat-free leg mass decreased (mean [SE]: -0.4 [0.2] kg) significantly.
Conclusions:
In premenopausal women approaching menopause, ovarian hormone suppression resulted in increased adiposity without alterations in TDEE, PAEE, or REE.
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