Energy Restriction and Hormones in Premenopausal Women

Effects of Moderate Aerobic Exercise Combined With Caloric Restriction on Circulating Estrogens and IGF-I in Premenopausal Women

A growing body of epidemiological and biological evidence strongly suggests that physical activity may reduce the risk of breast cancer. Although the mechanism remains unclear, possible links between reduced risk and exercise include favorable alterations in body composition and positive changes in the hormonal milieu. One hormonal biomarker of breast cancer, circulating estrogen, is postulated to be reduced by chronic physical activity, presumably due to disruptive effects of exercise upon menstrual cyclicity, and the potential for loss of body fat with subsequent reductions in the peripheral biosynthesis of circulating estrogens. Although studies have shown that chronic exercise can reduce circulating estrogen, we know little about the magnitude and duration of exposure to an energy deficit required for these changes. Additionally, no studies have addressed the degree to which peripheral production of estrone, versus the ovarian production of estradiol, is altered with exercise that promotes weight/fat loss. A second biomarker of breast cancer, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), is presumably increased with exercise but reduced with exercise if energy balance is negative. No prospective studies have addressed whether a moderate aerobic exercise program that results in weight loss will lead to significant changes in IGF-I levels, particularly in individuals of differing initial energy stores.

Metabolic energy availability is an important contributing factor in the development of reproductive cancers. However, current methods for assessing energy availability, which include anthropometric measures, calculations of energy balance, evaluation of various serum and urinary biomarkers are prone to measurement error, not sensitive to alterations in energy availability, and are sometimes affected by disease states. The current project includes the introduction of a novel approach to estimating energy status by measuring metabolic hormones in plasma: insulin, IGF-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and leptin.

This study tested whether a program of moderate aerobic exercise that is combined with a moderate level of dietary restriction would result in significant decreases in two biomarkers of breast cancer, circulating estrogens and IGF-I.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Menstruation Disturbances; Luteal Phase Defect
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise+CR; Other: Light Conditioning

Detailed Description

This study used a randomized prospective design (block; 3:1 allocation) to test the effects of a four month (four menstrual cycles) intervention of moderate aerobic exercise (4 times per week, 60 minutes/session) combined with caloric restriction designed to produce a weekly energy deficit of -20%. The aims of the study were: 1) To test the hypothesis that a moderate level of low energy availability created through a combination of exercise and caloric restriction will lower circulating estrogens and IGF-I; 2) To test the hypothesis that exercise-induced decreases in body fat will contribute substantially to the lowering of circulating estrogens changes with training; 3) To validate a novel method of assessing energy status that represents an improvement of existing.

Eumenorrheic, untrained women between 25-40 years (n=47) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments groups: exercise with caloric-restriction (EX+CR; n=36) or light conditioning reference (LC; n=11) groups. To determine treatment effects on circulating estrogens, reproductive function and IGF-I, both serum and urinary levels of hormones were monitored for a control period of 2 months (2 menstrual cycles), i.e., Screening and Baseline, followed the 4 month (4 menstrual cycles: intervention 1-4) experimental period. The exercise/diet intervention began on the first day of the third month (menstrual cycle) and continue for four menstrual cycles thereafter (intervention 1, 2, 3, and 4). A post-study measurement was taken during cycles days 1-7 of the seventh menstrual cycle.

Baseline energy needs were assessed during the baseline cycle. Resting metabolic rate and non-exercise physical activity were added to determine a caloric need for the day. Caloric intake was supervised throughout the entire study, and meals were comprised of 55% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 15% protein. Exercise training was supervised, and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) was calculated. Menstrual status was assessed through analysis of daily urinary metabolites of estrone-1-glucuronide (E1G), pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG), and midcycle luteinizing hormone (LH). Underwater weighing and a digital scale were used to assess body composition, and fasting blood samples were collected to assess metabolic hormones.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 47
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 25 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Weight 50-90 kg
• BMI 18-35 kg/m2
• Nonsmoking
• <1 hour/week of purposeful aerobic exercise for the past 6 months
• Gynecological age ≥10 years
• Documentation of at least two ovulatory menstrual cycles during screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of serious medical conditions
• Medication use that would alter metabolic hormone levels
• Significant weight loss/gain (±2.3 kg) in the last year
• Current evidence of disordered eating or history of an eating disorder
• Taking exogenous hormonal contraceptives for the past 6 month
• Smoking

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exercise with caloric-restriction; Exercise: Participants engaged in supervised exercise training sessions (to expend ~20% of baseline energy needs) in Noll Laboratory; 4 times per week. Diet: Participants consumed meals in the General Clinical Research Center metabolic kitchen that reduced dietary intake 20-35% of baseline energy needs. Diet composition was 55% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 15% protein.	Other: Exercise+CR; Exercise with caloric-restriction
Active Comparator: Light Conditioning (reference group); Exercise: Participants engaged in supervised exercise training sessions (to expend ~10% of baseline energy needs) in Noll Laboratory; 1-2 times per week. Diet: Participants consumed meals in the General Clinical Research Center metabolic kitchen that had calories sufficient to maintain body weight and additional calories to remain in energy balance. Diet composition was 55% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 15% protein.	Other: Light Conditioning; Light Conditioning Exercise

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in estrogen and IGF-1	Change in urine estrone-1-glucuronide (E1G ng/mL) and serum IGF-1 (ng/mL)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC), and Post Study (days 1-7 last MC)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in body composition	Change in percent body fat (%)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC), and Post Study (days 1-7 last MC)
Change in body composition	fat mass (kg) and fat free mass (kg)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC), and Post Study (days 1-7 last MC)
Change in reproductive hormones	Change in reproductive hormones sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG nmol/L)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC), and Post Study (days 1-7 last MC)
Change in reproductive hormones	Change in reproductive hormones pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG ng/mL)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC), and Post Study (days 1-7 last MC)
Change in metabolic hormones	Change in metabolic hormones leptin (ng/mL) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (ng/mL)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC), and Post Study (days 1-7 last MC)
Change in metabolic hormones	Change in metabolic hormone insulin (μIU/mL)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC), and Post Study (days 1-7 last MC)
Change in metabolic hormones	Change in metabolic hormone sex hormone binding globulin (nmol/L)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC), and Post Study (days 1-7 last MC)
Change in metabolic hormones	Change in metabolic hormone total triiodothyronine (ng/dL)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC), and Post Study (days 1-7 last MC)
Change in menstrual cycle phase length	Change in follicular phase length (days) and luteal phase length (days)	Baseline Menstrual Cycle (MC) (28 days (d) or the length of 1 MC, intervention 1 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 2 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 3 (28 d or 1 MC), intervention 4 (28 d or 1 MC)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Penn State University
• Collaborators: United States Department of Defense; National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nancy Williams, ScD, Penn State University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Williams NI, Reed JL, Leidy HJ, Legro RS, De Souza MJ. Estrogen and progesterone exposure is reduced in response to energy deficiency in women aged 25-40 years. Hum Reprod. 2010 Sep;25(9):2328-39. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deq172. Epub 2010 Jul 6.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2001
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2006
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 6, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): November 4, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 4, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2021
• Last Verified: October 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pathologic Processes; Energy Balance; Menstrual Cycle Disturbance; Luteal Phase Defect; Menstruation Disturbances
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Menstruation Disturbances
• Other Study ID Numbers: 01M0088; M01RR010732 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); DAMD 17-01-1-0361 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Department of Defense); DAMD 17-01-109360 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Department of Defense)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No