Serum creatine kinase, CK‐MB, and perceived soreness following eccentric exercise in oral contraceptive users

Abstract

Estrogen ingestion has been suggested as a protective mechanism of muscle membrane integrity against an exercise-induced muscle inflammatory response. Serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration and the heart muscle isoenzyme CK-MB have been used as diagnostic markers of muscle disruption following exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in serum CK, CK-MB, and perceived soreness following exercise-induced muscle disruption in females taking an oral contraceptive (OC) and those not. Subjects included sixteen females, eight in the experimental group and eight in the control group. Estrogen concentration, determined pre-exercise, was 181 ± 45 pg/ml for the OC group and 124 ± 25 pg/ml for the controls, respectively. Subjects participated in an eccentric hamstring exercise which consisted of six sets of ten repetitions at 110% of concentric 1RM. Serum CK, CK-MB concentration and perceived soreness were assessed pre-exercise and immediately, 24,48,72 and 96 hours post-exercise. Serum CK concentration increased significantly (p < .05) in the period post-exercise 17-fold in the OC group and 59-fold in the control group. Serum CK-MB concentration increased 3-fold in the OC group and 80-fold in the control group in the same period. Perceived soreness was significantly (p < .05) different between groups for hamstring soreness. The data indicate that a controlled concentration of serum estrogen supplied to the OC group may effectively reduce the degree of muscle membrane permeability or disruption as indicated by the reduced magnitude of the circulating concentration of the CK, CK-MB enzyme difference between the estrogen and non-estrogen groups, respectively, following exercise-induced muscle soreness.

Influence of Second-Generation Oral Contraceptives on Muscle Recovery after Repeated Resistance Exercise in Trained Females

“…We measured several biomarkers indicative of muscle damage (CK, myoglobin, LDH, and hsCRP) to determine if the use of OCs was associated with greater muscle damage in response to resistance exercise. Higher CK activity in OC users compared with nonusers after eccentric exercise has been found in some (7,9,12) but not all studies (10,11). We observed significant increases in CK activity after resistance exercise but no significant difference between groups.…”

“…In addition, the effect that different forms of progestins in OCs may have on skeletal muscle properties has only been scarcely studied (6). Muscle recovery and exercise-induced muscle damage have been compared between untrained OC users and nonusers in a handful of studies (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Muscle damage was induced by eccentric muscle contractions in the lower (7,(9)(10)(11)(12) or upper extremities (8), and recovery measures were collected before and up to 162 h after exercise.…”

“…Muscle recovery and exercise-induced muscle damage have been compared between untrained OC users and nonusers in a handful of studies (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Muscle damage was induced by eccentric muscle contractions in the lower (7,(9)(10)(11)(12) or upper extremities (8), and recovery measures were collected before and up to 162 h after exercise. A greater loss of muscle strength in OC users compared with nonusers was observed 24 h (8), 48 h (7,8), and 96 h (10) after exercise, accompanied by more pronounced increases in serum creatine kinase (CK) activity (7,9,12).…”

Recovery from Resistance Exercise in Older Adults: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…Indeed, oestrogen is typically much lower in older post-menopausal women than young women, and this reduction in hormone levels could explain the impaired exercise recovery rates in older compared to younger women. Although this has not yet been investigated, a previous systematic review [72] found five studies that reported markers of EIMD in young women who were or were not taking oral contraceptives [73][74][75][76][77]. In the one study in which endogenous oestrogen was higher prior to exercise in the oral contraceptive group, a lower CK response was reported post-exercise compared to the menstrual cycle group [77], suggesting a potential protective effect of oestrogen against EIMD.…”

“…Although this has not yet been investigated, a previous systematic review [72] found five studies that reported markers of EIMD in young women who were or were not taking oral contraceptives [73][74][75][76][77]. In the one study in which endogenous oestrogen was higher prior to exercise in the oral contraceptive group, a lower CK response was reported post-exercise compared to the menstrual cycle group [77], suggesting a potential protective effect of oestrogen against EIMD. However, like the present review, no conclusions could be drawn due to a relatively small number of varied studies.…”