CAN ESTROGENS DIMINISH EXERCISE-INDUCED MUSCLE DAMAGE

Estrogens are female sex hormones that may also protect against peroxi dative damage of membrane lipids and low density lipoproteins (LDL). S tudies have reported that female rats have greater protection against flee radical induced lipid peroxidation and muscle damage consequent t o exercise than do male rats. It has been suggested that the lower sus ceptibility to exercise induced oxidative stress and muscle membrane d isruption of female rats may be due primarily to the antioxidant and m embrane stabilizing properties of estrogens. Studies on humans have in dicated that the lower incidence of atherosclerosis seen in premenopau sal females in comparison to males is due at least in part to the abil ity of estrogens to diminish LDL pel oxidation. However, there is litt le evidence as to the potential of estrogens to pi-elect human females from fi ee radical induced peroxidation and muscle damage due to exer cise. This paper reviews the evidence for membrane stabilization poten tial of Estrogens and their possible mechanisms, and speculates as to the potential significance of this for human exercise.