Emma O'DonnellLoughborough University | Lough · School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Emma O'Donnell
BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA
About
54
Publications
15,449
Reads
How we measure 'reads'
A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list of authors), clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the full-text. Learn more
926
Citations
Citations since 2017
Introduction
Additional affiliations
January 2014 - November 2015
University Health Network at Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Position
- PostDoc Position
September 2013 - present
Position
- Sessional Instructor
Description
- Professional Placement I and II. Integrated theory and practice provides undergraduate students an opportunity to develop their knowledge and competencies in the professional practice of kinesiology and physical education in work contexts.
January 2013 - May 2013
Position
- Course Instructor
Description
- Cardiovascular Health in Women. Self-designed course with a physiological focus on: i) cardiovascular considerations that are unique to women, and ii) interactions between exercise training and the hormonal milieu.
Publications
Publications (54)
Disordered eating-related attitudes are a leading cause of energy deficiency and menstrual disturbances in exercising women. Although treatment recommendations include psychological counseling with increases in dietary intake, a key concern is whether increased dietary intake may exacerbate negative eating behaviors.
Objective: To determine the ef...
Introduction:
Menopause is associated with vascular dysfunction and increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Associations between vascular and metabolic health, and interactions with aerobic exercise training, are unknown in postmenopausal women (PMW).
Methods:
In habitually aerobically trained PMW (PMWtr; n=10; 57±1 years; 40±1 ml/kg/mi...
Background
Women in many cohorts have a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. Sex is a biological construct whereby differences in disease manifestation and prevalence are rooted in genetic differences between XX and XY combinations of chromosomes. This chapter focuses specifically on sex-driven differences in...
Short-term dietary nitrate (NO3−) supplementation has the potential to enhance performance during submaximal endurance, and short-duration, maximal-intensity exercise. However, it has yet to be determined whether NO3− supplementation before and during submaximal endurance exercise can improve performance during a short-duration, maximal-intensity e...
Introduction: South Asians (SAs) have an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to white Europeans (WEs). Postprandial endothelial function (FMD%) in SA women, and SA men with central obesity, has not been investigated. Research in other populations has highlighted a 1% higher FMD% is associated with a ~13% lower risk of future CVD...
Growing literature has examined the role of physical activity (PA) in modifying the effects of estrogen withdrawal on cardiovascular health in postmenopausal females, yet the impact of PA on androgens is less clear. Changes in androgen concentrations following regular PA may improve cardiovascular health. This narrative review summarized the litera...
We examined the influence of sex and age on the relationship between aerobic fitness and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in healthy adults. Data were assessed from 224 volunteers (88 females), aged 18-76 yrs, in whom resting MSNA (microneurography) and peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2 peak; incremental exercise test) were evaluated. When separate...
Objectives:
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of habitual exercise training and metabolic health on basal cardiac autonomic function and cardiac autonomic recovery after exercise in healthy postmenopausal women (PMW).
Methods:
Habitually aerobically trained PMW (PMW-tr; 56 ± 1y; n = 11), and untrained PMW (PMW-un; 57 ± 1y;...
Cognitive and mood changes are frequently mentioned as complaints before, during and after menopausal transition. There is substantial biological evidence for such associations to occur, as there are many mechanisms through which estrogens can affect the brain, by regulating metabolism, increasing cerebral blood flow and dendritic outgrowth, by act...
Bone stress injury (BSI) is prevalent in female distance runners. Menstrual disturbances are associated with impaired bone health in endurance athletes. This study aimed to investigate the association between menstrual function and BSI and explore whether plyometric training may protect against BSI in individuals with menstrual disturbances. Compet...
Objective:
Different body mass index (BMI) trajectories that result in obesity may have diverse health consequences, yet this heterogeneity is poorly understood. We aimed to identify distinct classes of individuals who share similar BMI trajectories and examine associations with cardiometabolic health. Approach and Results: Using data on 3549 part...
Endurance athletes expend large amounts of energy in prolonged high-intensity exercise and, due to the weight-sensitive nature of most endurance sports, often practice periods of dietary restriction. The Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport models consider endurance athletes at high-risk for suffering from low energy availab...
Objectives:
We systemically reviewed the literature to assess how long-term testosterone suppressing gender-affirming hormone therapy influenced lean body mass (LBM), muscular area, muscular strength and haemoglobin (Hgb)/haematocrit (HCT).
Design:
Systematic review.
Data sources:
Four databases (BioMed Central, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Scien...
Purpose:
Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and is associated with impaired postprandial metabolism. Acute exercise reduces postprandial lipemia and improves other CHD risk markers in non-smokers. Less is known about responses in cigarette smokers.
Methods:
Twelve male cigarette smokers (mean(SD) age...
Purpose: Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and is associated with impaired postprandial metabolism. Acute exercise reduces postprandial lipemia and improves other CHD risk markers in non-smokers. Less is known about responses in cigarette smokers.
Methods: Twelve male cigarette smokers (mean(SD) age...
This study tested the hypothesis that exposure to chlorine-sterilised pool water would impair oral nitrate reduction (ONR). ONR was assessed in elite swimmers before and after morning and afternoon pool-based training. Nonswimmers were only assessed in the morning. ONR was similar in swimmers and nonswimmers (P = 1.000) and unchanged before and aft...
Background:
Hypoestrogenemia due to menopause is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, in part due to elevated indexes of aortic wave reflection (AWRI) and central (aortic) blood pressure. We sought to investigate whether AWRI and central blood pressure are also augmented in hypoestrogenic exercise-trained premenopausal women with...
Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) decreases during low intensity dynamic 1-leg exercise in healthy subjects but increases in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
Aims:
We hypothesized that increased peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) after aerobic training would be accompanied by less sympatho-excitation during bo...
Apply It! By reading this article, the health and fitness professional will understand how heart rate can be used to monitor exercise intensity, be given examples of some of the different heart rate zones that are promoted by different fitness technologies, and understand some of the limitations of technologies for measuring and monitoring heart ra...
In estrogen deficient postmenopausal women, osteoporosis shares a common link with cardiovascular disease risk, including endothelial dysfunction. The current study sought to examine associations between bone mineral density (BMD) and endothelial function in estrogen deficient premenopausal women with exercise‐associated menstrual disturbances. Rec...
Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) at rest increases with age. However, the influence of age on MSNA recorded during dynamic leg exercise is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that aging attenuates the sympatho-inhibitory response observed in young subjects performing mild to moderate 1-leg cycling. After pre-determining peak oxygen uptake (VO...
Objectives
Arterial stiffness, peripheral wave reflection and pulse pressure predict cardiovascular disease risk. Regular aerobic exercise training is a recommended non-pharmacological approach to lower cardiovascular disease risk, including lowering blood pressure and attenuating age-related increases in arterial stiffness (AS). However, it remain...
Objective:
Delayed heart rate (HR) recovery in the immediate postexercise period has been linked to adverse cardiovascular prognosis. The after effects of an acute bout of exercise on HR modulation in postmenopausal women (PMW) and the influence of estrogen therapy are unknown.
Methods:
In 13 sedentary PMW (54 ± 2 y, mean ± SEM), we assessed HR...
Compared with eumenorrheic women, exercise-trained women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (ExFHA) exhibit low heart rates (HR) and absent reflex renin-angiotensin-system activation and augmentation of their muscle sympathetic nerve response to orthostatic stress. To test the hypothesis that their autonomic HR modulation is altered concurrent...
ABSTRACT
Our prior observations in normotensive postmenopausal women stimulated the hypotheses that compared to eumenorrheic women, active hypoestrogenic premenopausal women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea would demonstrate attenuated reflex renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system responses to an orthostatic challenge, whereas to defend blood...
Our prior observations in normotensive postmenopausal women stimulated the hypotheses that compared to eumenorrheic women, active hypoestrogenic premenopausal women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea would demonstrate attenuated reflex renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system responses to an orthostatic challenge, whereas to defend blood pressure...
Compared with eumenorrheic women, exercise-trained women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (ExFHA) have a low heart rate (HR), absent reflex activation of their renin-angiotensin-system, and augmentation of the normal increase in muscle sympathetic nerve burst incidence during orthostatic stress, suggesting concurrently altered autonomic HR m...
We are concerned that readers of the IOC paper will be confused and misled by the poorly referenced statements and frank (and sometimes dangerous) errors in the paper. The IOC authors should publish a correction of these and other errors noted. Broadening research of low energy availability in other groups, such as the male athlete, athletes of div...
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is integrally involved in multiple cardiovascular physiological processes including arterial blood pressure (BP) regulation. Over-activity of the RAAS has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of cardiovascular disease entities, including hypertension. Several lines of evidence suggest estro...
Objectives: To determine the hemodynamic effects of an acute bout of exercise on previous findings of impaired resistance vessel function in physically active premenopausal women with hypothalamic hypoestrogenemia (ExHH). Methods: Two groups of similarly trained recreationally active premenopausal women were studied: ExHH (n=12; aged 25±1 years; bo...
Objectives: To determine the hemodynamic effects of an acute bout of exercise on previous findings of impaired resistance vessel function in physically active premenopausal women with hypothalamic hypoestrogenemia (ExHH).
Methods: Two groups of similarly trained recreationally active premenopausal women were studied: ExHH (n=12; aged 25±1 years; bo...
In light of the known modulatory effects of estrogen on neurohumoral control of blood pressure (BP), we tested the hypothesis that muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and serum renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) levels would differ between estrogen deficient physically active women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (ExFHA) and e...
Introduction:
Exercise-trained hypoestrogenic premenopausal women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (ExFHA) exhibit impaired endothelial function. The vascular effects of an acute bout of exercise, a potent nitric oxide stimulus, in these women are unknown.
Methods:
Three groups were studied: recreationally active ExFHA women (n = 12; 24.2...
Background: One mechanism by which regular exercise may exact cardiovascular protection is by improving endothelial function. However, exercise-trained estrogen deficient premenopausal women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (ExFHA) exhibit impaired endothelial function. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that in women with ExFHA a single bout of dy...
Evidence indicates that hypoestrogenemia is linked with accelerated progression of atherosclerosis. Premenopausal women presenting with ovulatory disruption due to functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) are characterized by hypoestrogenemia. One common and reversible form of FHA in association with energy deficiency is exercise-associated amenorr...
The role of adiponectin in mediating gonadal status and bone health in weight-stable healthy adult female athletes with secondary amenorrhea has not yet been described.
Using a prospective observational study, age-matched premenopausal women were studied, including 1) sedentary ovulatory women (SedOv; n=10), 2) exercising ovulatory women (ExOv; n=1...
The identification of subtle menstrual cycle disturbances requires daily hormone assessments. In contrast, the identification of severe menstrual disturbances, such as amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea, can be established by clinical observation. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of subtle menstrual disturbances, defined...
We investigated the influence of hormone therapy (HT) on submaximal central and peripheral function in healthy postmenopausal women after 12 weeks of endurance training.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in a research and clinical facility was conducted. All participants (N = 23) underwent 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training (w...
Oestrogen deficiency contributes to altered cardiovascular function in premenopausal amenorrheic physically active women. We investigated whether other energy deficiency-associated factors might also be associated with altered cardiovascular function in these women.
A prospective observational study was completed at a research facility at the Unive...
The cardiovascular consequences of hypoestrogenism in premenopausal women are unclear. Accordingly, the influence of menstrual status and endogenous estrogen (E(2)) exposure on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and calf blood flow in young (18-35 yr) regularly exercising premenopausal women with exercise-associated menstrual aberrations was inv...
Recent findings support a role for ghrelin in the regulation of energy homeostasis and possibly reproductive function. The primary purpose of this study was to test whether differences in fasting ghrelin levels exist in exercising women with differing menstrual and metabolic status. Menstrual cycle status was defined as sedentary ovulatory (SedOvul...
Hypoestrogenism in Amenorrheic Athletes Modulates Cardiovascular Function
O'Donnell, Emma1; Goodman, Jack M.1; Witt, Jonathan1; VanHeest, Jaci2; Mahoney, Carrie E.2; De Souza, Mary Jane FACSM1
1University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 2University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
The most severe menstrual dysfunction associated with the Female Athle...
In premenopausal women, the most severe menstrual dysfunction is amenorrhoea, which is associated with chronic hypoestrogenism. In postmenopausal women, hypoestrogenism is associated with a number of clinical sequelae related to cardiovascular health. A cardioprotective effect of endogenous oestrogen is widely supported, yet recent studies demonstr...
Questions
Question (1)
I'm a researcher that is interested in the cardiovascular effects of estrogen, and I am very interested to learn of the reaching potential effects of phytoestrogens. I'm not sure if you will be able to answer this questions based on your current proposed project, but I'm curious to know whether such bioactive compounds can modulate cardiovascular regulation, such as the autonomic nervous system, via acting on the braincentres associated with cardiovascular regulation. Many thanks in advance for taking the time to answer this question.
Projects
Project (1)
The goal of this project is to research how effectively to use power in a new optoelectronic sensor system, and deliver an ultra-lightweight, wearable, enhanced prototype capable of real-time vital signs monitoring with better performance both at rest and during physical activity in healthcare, sport and fitness industries.
