OBJECTIVE: To assess the cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses of 30 postmenopausal women using estrogen during maximum physical activity during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Twenty-five women completed the test. METHODS: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was carried out to assess 2 groups of women: estradiol group - comprising 14 postmenopausal women (57.6±4.8 years) receiving oral estradiol at the dosage of 2 mg/day for 90 days; and placebo group - comprising 11 women (55.8±6.7 years) receiving placebo during the same period. Both groups underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a cycloergometer, during which the following variables were assessed: volume of oxygen consumption per kilogram per minute during peak exercise (VO2peak); anaerobic threshold (AT); volume of oxygen consumption per kilogram per minute in the anaerobic threshold (VO2 in AT); point of respiratory decompensation (PRD); duration of exercise (DE); maximum load achieved (ML); maximum heart rate (HR); systolic blood pressure (SBP); and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) before and after drug administration. RESULTS: The following variables showed statistically significant reductions only in the group of women receiving estradiol: VO2peak (P=0.002); AT (P=0.01); VO2 in AT (P=0.001); and DE (P=0.05). The other variables did not change. CONCLUSION: Estradiol did not improve the cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses when compared with placebo.
postmenopausal; estrogen replacement therapy; estradiol; placebo; exercise
