Short-term 17β-estradiol decreases glucose Ra but not whole body metabolism during endurance exercise

The female sex hormone 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) has been shown to increase lipid and decrease carbohydrate utilization in animals. We administrated oral E(2) and placebo (randomized, double blind, crossover) to eight human male subjects for 8 days ( approximately 3 mg/day) and measured respiratory variables, plasma substrates, hormones (E(2), testosterone, leptin, cortisol, insulin, and catecholamines), and substrate utilization during 90 min of …