Key result
High oestradiol linked to lower post-exercise pain and LDH in non-trained women vs low oestradiol.
Why the study?
This study evaluated the influence of oestradiol on exercise-induced muscular damage and performance in non-trained healthy women.
Does high endogenous oestradiol reduce exercise-induced muscular damage and affect heart rate variability in non-trained healthy women?
Observational (n=36)
Does high endogenous oestradiol reduce exercise-induced muscular damage and affect heart rate variability in non-trained healthy women?
Higher endogenous oestradiol levels in non-trained women are associated with reduced pain perception and lower LDH levels following exhaustive exercise, but do not appear to influence heart rate variability.
Should not yet alter exercise advice by E2 status in women; leaves open its role in EIMD recovery pending RCTs.
This study evaluates in non-trained healthy women the influence of oestradiol (E2) on exercise induced muscular damage (EIMD) and performance. Thirty-six young healthy women performed a step-exercise until exhaustion, assessing the number of repetitions, pain perception and well-being (questionnaires, 15 min and at 48 h post-exercise), blood pressure (sphygmomanometer) and heart rate variability (HRV; H10-polar band) were measured at rest and 15 min post-exercise. Plasma samples were taken at rest and 2 h post-exercise, assessing interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, IL-1ra, IL-10 (multiplex ELISA), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, and E2 (spectrophotometry). Statistical analysis was performed comparing women with low E2 (<40 pg/mL; n = 18) and high E2 (≥40 pg/mL; n = 18). The number of repetitions was not different between groups and did not correlate with E2. Compared to the low-E2 group, the high-E2 group had significantly smaller lower-body pain perception at 2 h and scored higher in well-being at 48 h. IL-6 and IL-10 levels 2 h post-exercise did not differ between groups, but both cytokines positively correlated with E2. LDH, but not CK, was lower in the high-E2 group and negatively correlated with E2. Blood pressure at rest negatively correlated with E2. Total pain at 48 h positively correlated with LDH and negatively with IL-10, and the opposite correlations were found with well-being. No differences between groups or E2 correlations were found in time-domain or frequency-domain HRV parameters at rest or after exercise. In conclusion, in non-trained women, oestrogen levels influence EIMD, reducing pain perception. These effects could be related to E2 actions on membrane protection and accelerating muscle fibre regeneration through IL-6/IL-10 myokine signalling. According to these data, oestrogen does not appear to influence HRV, and the role of progesterone deserves further attention.
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Ramiro‐Cortijo et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Healthy, non-trained (n=36). High oestradiol (≥40 pg/mL) vs. Low oestradiol (<40 pg/mL) was evaluated on Exercise induced muscular damage and performance (including pain perception, well-being, and biomarkers). High oestradiol levels (≥40 pg/mL) in non-trained women were associated with significantly lower pain perception and lower LDH levels post-exercise compared to low oestradiol (<40 pg/mL).
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