Although there was no gender difference in glucose
Ra before or after training at either exercise intensity,
glucose MCR was lower in females compared with
males at later time points during endurance exercise.
Females were also found to have a strong trend toward
a higher plasma glucose concentration (P 5 0.056)
compared with males. These findings demonstrated
that females have a lower skeletal muscle glucose
uptake compared with males for a given glucose concentration.
Two studies have found that 17b-estradiol
administration can decrease glucose Ra during submaximal
exercise in humans (4, 37). We have previously
shown a better maintenance of plasma glucose
and a lower glucose MCR and Rd during endurance
exercise in males given 17b-estradiol (4)