Role of exercise in estrogen deficiency-induced sarcopenia

Eun-Jeong Cho; Youngju Choi; Su-Jeen Jung; Hyo-Bum Kwak

doi:10.12965/jer.2244004.002

Role of exercise in estrogen deficiency-induced sarcopenia

J Exerc Rehabil. 2022 Feb 24;18(1):2-9. doi: 10.12965/jer.2244004.002. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Authors

Eun-Jeong Cho¹, Youngju Choi², Su-Jeen Jung³, Hyo-Bum Kwak^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Science, Program in Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.
² Institute of Sports & Arts Convergence, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.
³ Department of Leisure Sports, Seoil University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

A decline in estrogen levels during menopause is associated with the loss of muscle mass and function, and it can accelerate sarcopenia. However, with the growing number of postmenopausal women due to the increase in life expectancy, the effects of estrogen on skeletal muscle are not completely understood. This article reviews the relationship between estrogen deficiency and skeletal muscle, its potential mechanisms, including those involving mitochondria, and the effects of exercise on estrogen deficiency-induced skeletal muscle impairment. In particular, mitochondrial dysfunction induced by estrogen deficiency accelerates sarcopenia via mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. It is well known that exercise training is essential for health, including for the improvement of sarcopenia. This review highlights the importance of exercise training (aerobic and resistance exercise) as a therapeutic intervention against estrogen deficiency-induced sarcopenia.

Keywords: Estrogen; Exercise training; Sarcopenia; Skeletal muscle.

Publication types

Review