Effect of training status and exercise mode on endogenous steroid hormones in men

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) 2004-02, Vol.96 (2), p.531-539
• Main Authors: Tremblay, Mark S, Copeland, Jennifer L, Van Helder, Walter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Androgens; Biological and medical sciences; Dehydroepiandrosterone - blood; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Male; Men; Middle Aged; Physical Endurance - physiology; Physical Fitness - physiology; Plasma Volume - physiology; Steroids; Testosterone - blood
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00656.2003

College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5C2 Submitted 25 June 2003 ; accepted in final form 22 September 2003 The purpose of this study was to determine the acute anabolic and catabolic hormone response to endurance and resistance exercise bouts of equal volume in subjects with differing training status. Twenty-two healthy men were recruited who were either resistance trained ( n = 7), endurance trained ( n = 8), or sedentary ( n = 7). Three sessions were completed: a resting session, a 40-min run at 50-55% maximal oxygen consumption, and a resistance exercise session. Expired gases were monitored continuously during exercise, and the endurance and resistance exercise sessions were individually matched for caloric expenditure. Blood samples were drawn before exercise and 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after the start of the exercise. Plasma was analyzed for luteinizing hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cortisol, and free and total testosterone. Androgens increased in response to exercise, particularly resistance exercise, whereas cortisol only increased after resistance exercise. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels increased during the resistance exercise session and remained elevated during recovery in the resistance-trained subjects. Endurance-trained subjects displayed less pronounced changes in hormone concentrations in response to exercise than resistance-trained subjects. After an initial postexercise increase, there was a significant decline in free and total testosterone during recovery from resistance exercise ( P < 0.05), particularly in resistance-trained subjects. On the basis of the results of this study, it appears that the endogenous hormone profile of men is more dependent on exercise mode or intensity than exercise volume as measured by caloric expenditure. The relatively catabolic environment observed during the resistance session may indicate an intensity-rather than a mode-dependent response. androgens; endurance training; exercise volume; resistance training Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. S. Tremblay, Statistics Canada, Tunney's Pasture Main Building, Room 2200, Section S, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0T6 (E-mail: mark.tremblay{at}statcan.ca ).