Effect of Intensive Physical Loads on Plasma Testosterone and Cortisol Concentration in Elite Athletes

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2022.3.12

Keywords:

testosterone, cortisol, athletes

Abstract

The study purpose was to investigate changes in the content of testosterone and cortisol in the blood of qualified athletes after testing them to determine their maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max).

Materials and methods. Thirty-seven international level athletes: 15 biathletes, 12 rowers, 6 boxers, 4 modern pentathletes participated in this study. The test to evaluate VO2max used exercise of increasing intensity on a rowing ergometer for rowers and on a treadmill for biathletes, boxers, modern pentathletes. Total testosterone and cortisol concentrations were determined in blood serum by an immunoenzyme analyzer before and after the test for determination of VO2max.

Results. The concentration of total testosterone has been found to decrease significantly on average by 24,4% and the concentration of cortisol has increased by 34% due to physical activity. The highest level of maximum oxygen consumption was found in athletes with high levels of basal testosterone and cortisol in the blood. There is a high correlation between the basal content of total testosterone and the maximum consumption of oxygen in athletes (r = 0,58).

Conclusions. The high content of basal testosterone and cortisol is an important factor for the athlete’s special working efficiency: higher level of basal cortisol has been accompanied by smaller increases in cortisol per load and high basal level of testosterone makes is possible to keep its concentration sufficient. The concentration of total testosterone and cortisol can be used as a marker of the effect of a training load.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Olena Maidaniuk, State Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture and Sport

Laboratory of functional, physical and technical reserves of athletes
Stolychne Highway, 19, Kyiv, 03131, Ukraine
darinam7@gmail.com

Nataliia Vdovenko, State Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture and Sport

Laboratory of ergogenic factors in sport
Stolychne Highway, 19, Kyiv, 03131, Ukraine
natazlyv@gmail.com

Anna Husarova, State Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture and Sport

Laboratory of ergogenic factors in sport
Stolychne Highway, 19, Kyiv, 03131, Ukraine
ivanova.anna.m@gmail.com

References

Hammami, M. A., Ben Abderrahman, A., Hackney, A. C., Kebsi, W., Owen, A. L., Nebigh, A., Racil, G., Tabka, Z., & Zouhal, H. (2017). Hormonal (Cortical-Gonadotropic Axis) and Physical Changes With Two Years Intense Exercise Training in Elite Young Soccer Players. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 31(9), 2388-2397. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001664

Strahorn, J., Serpell, B. G., McKune, A., & Pumpa, K. L. (2017). Effect of Physical and Psychosocial Interventions on Hormone and Performance Outcomes in Professional Rugby Union Players: A Systematic Review. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 31(11), 3158-3169. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002067

Viru, A., & Viru, M. (2004). Cortisol-essential adaptation hormone in exercise. International journal of sports medicine, 25(6), 461-464. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-821068

Hansen, S., Kvorning, T., Kjaer, M., & Sjøgaard, G. (2001). The effect of short-term strength training on human skeletal muscle: the importance of physiologically elevated hormone levels. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 11(6), 347-354. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0838.2001.110606.x

Popovic, B., Popovic, D., Macut, D., Antic, I. B., Isailovic, T., Ognjanovic, S., Bogavac, T., Kovacevic, V. E., Ilic, D., Petrovic, M., & Damjanovic, S. (2019). Acute Response to Endurance Exercise Stress: Focus on Catabolic/anabolic Interplay Between Cortisol, Testosterone, and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin in Professional Athletes. Journal of medical biochemistry, 38(1), 6-12. https://doi.org/10.2478/jomb-2018-0016

Gaviglio, Christopher Mark (2018). The efficacy of salivary testosterone and cortisol as a biomarker of training and competition in elite rugby union athletes. PhD Thesis, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland. https://doi.org/10.14264/uql.2018.712

Cadegiani, F. A., & Kater, C. E. (2019). Basal Hormones and Biochemical Markers as Predictors of Overtraining Syndrome in Male Athletes: The EROS-BASAL Study. Journal of athletic training, 54(8), 906-914. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-148-18

Jacks, D. E., Sowash, J., Anning, J., McGloughlin, T., & Andres, F. (2002). Effect of exercise at three exercise intensities on salivary cortisol. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 16(2), 286-289.

Vingren, J. L., Budnar, R. G., Jr, McKenzie, A. L., Duplanty, A. A., Luk, H. Y., Levitt, D. E., & Armstrong, L. E. (2016). The acute testosterone, growth hormone, cortisol and interleukin-6 response to 164-km road cycling in a hot environment. Journal of sports sciences, 34(8), 694-699. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1068440

Suay, F., Salvador, A., González-Bono, E., Sanchís, C., Martínez, M., Martínez-Sanchis, S., Simón, V. M., & Montoro, J. B. (1999). Effects of competition and its outcome on serum testosterone, cortisol and prolactin. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 24(5), 551-566. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4530(99)00011-6

Sgrò, P., Romanelli, F., Felici, F., Sansone, M., Bianchini, S., Buzzachera, C. F., Baldari, C., Guidetti, L., Pigozzi, F., Lenzi, A., & Di Luigi, L. (2014). Testosterone responses to standardized short-term sub-maximal and maximal endurance exercises: issues on the dynamic adaptive role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. Journal of endocrinological investigation, 37(1), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-013-0006-0

Maydanyuk, E. V., & Vdovenko, N. V. (2021). Effect of intensive physical loads on testosterone, cortisol and insulin blood concentrations in elite athletes. Problems of Endocrine Pathology, 76(2), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.21856/j-PEP.2021.2.07

Lautenbach, F., & Lobinger, B. H. (2018). Correction to: Cortisol Predicts Performance During Competition: Preliminary Results of a Field Study with Elite Adolescent Taekwondo Athletes. Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback, 43(4), 281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-018-9409-1

Papacosta, E., Nassis, G. P., & Gleeson, M. (2016). Salivary hormones and anxiety in winners and losers of an international judo competition. Journal of sports sciences, 34(13), 1281-1287. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1111521

Crewther, B. T., Carruthers, J., Kilduff, L. P., Sanctuary, C. E., & Cook, C. J. (2016). Temporal associations between individual changes in hormones, training motivation and physical performance in elite and non-elite trained men. Biology of sport, 33(3), 215-221. https://doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1201810

Muscella, A., Stefàno, E., & Marsigliante, S. (2021). The effects of training on hormonal concentrations and physical performance of football referees. Physiological reports, 9(8), e14740. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.14740

Kraemer, W. J., & Ratamess, N. A. (2005). Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training. Sports medicine, 35(4), 339-361. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200535040-00004

Cadegiani, F. A., & Kater, C. E. (2018). Body composition, metabolism, sleep, psychological and eating patterns of overtraining syndrome: Results of the EROS study (EROS-PROFILE). Journal of sports sciences, 36(16), 1902-1910.

Andrzejewski, M., Podgórski, T., Kryściak, J., Chmura, P., Konefał, M., Chmura, J., Marynowicz, J., Adrian, J., & Pluta, B. (2021). Anabolic-catabolic hormonal responses in youth soccer players during a half-season. Research in sports medicine (Print), 29(2), 141-154. https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2020.1734930

Toro-Román, V., Muñoz, D., Siquier-Coll, J., Bartolomé, I., Robles, M. C., & Maynar-Mariño, M. (2021). Influence of a Maximal Incremental Test Until Exhaustion on the Urinary Excretion of Steroid Hormones in Trained Cyclists. Journal of human kinetics, 78, 121-129. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2021-0033

Downloads

Published

2022-09-23

How to Cite

Maidaniuk, O., Vdovenko, N., & Husarova, A. (2022). Effect of Intensive Physical Loads on Plasma Testosterone and Cortisol Concentration in Elite Athletes. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 22(3), 379–385. https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2022.3.12

Issue

Section

Original Scientific Articles