Impact of the menstrual cycle on immunometabolic responses front acute session of high-intensity exercise in women with different physical fitness levels and body adiposity

• Grant number: 24/18539-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Santos de Lira
• Grantee: Marta Matos Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The menstrual cycle is divided into follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases, which promote several metabolic changes; however, the impact of the different phases of the menstrual cycle on the modulations imposed by physical exercise in women with different levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (measured by maximum oxygen consumption - VO2max) and body adiposity is unknown.Thus, the objective of the present proposal is to investigate the influence of the phases of the menstrual cycle on the immunometabolic response of young and mature women with different levels of physical fitness and body adiposity when they are under an acute session of high-intensity exercise.Materials and methods: For this academic study, 39 women aged 18 to 35 with a regular menstrual cycle will be recruited and separated into three age groups: I) high VO2max and low body fat percentage, II) low VO2max and high body fat percentage and III) low VO2max and low body fat percentage. For a period of three months, the participants will be monitored for menstrual cycle monitoring by analysis of sex hormones and self-reported methods. Subsequently, they will undergo body composition assessments (DXA), cardiorespiratory fitness testing on a treadmill (determination of VO2max), assessment of food consumption (food record and 24-hour dietary recall), and blood collections. In each phase of the menstrual cycle (follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases), the participants will undergo an acute session of high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) at 100% of maximum speed in a 1:1 protocol (1 minute of effort for 1 minute of passive rest) totalling 10 shots on a treadmill. Additionally, we will collect blood samples before and after the acute HIIE session for biochemical analyses of cytokines and hormones.The present study, it is hypothesized that inflammatory and metabolic responses are impacted by the phases of the menstrual cycle at rest or during a session of physical effort. However, it's important to note that the effects imposed by the menstrual cycle will depend on the level of physical conditioning and body composition.