The Response of Sexual and Stress Hormones of Male Pro-Cyclists During Continuous Intense Competition

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 2002-11, Vol.23 (8), p.555-560
• Main Authors: Fernández-Garcia, B., Lucía, A., Hoyos, J., Chicharro, J. L., Rodriguez-Alonso, M., Bandrés, F., Terrados, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - physiology; Adult; Bicycling - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Competitive Behavior - physiology; Exercise - physiology; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones - physiology; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Male; Physical Education and Training - methods; Physical Endurance - physiology; Physiology & Biochemistry; Prolactin - blood; Testosterone - blood; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-35532

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare hormonal changes in plasma total testosterone (T), cortisol (C), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (P) in two world-class teams, both consisting of 9 top male pro-cyclists, during a real sports situation (the 1998 “Vuelta a España”, a 3-week multi-stage international cycling competition). Venous blood samples were taken the day before the race (S0), after 1 week (S1), after 2 weeks (S2) and at the end of the race (S3). The S0 T level was significantly lower in the team with more racing days in the previous month. There was a significant basal T decrease (p < 0.05) during the race in comparison with the initial value, in spite of the difference in S0 T level between teams. However, there was no difference between teams in the mean decrease in T level. C decreased significantly between S0 and S1 and between S1 and S2, but not between S2 and S3. There were no differences in P concentration between teams or throughout the study, except for a significant increase between S2 and S3. There were no initial differences in LH nor FSH concentration between the teams, nor at any of the study follow-up times. We conclude that in professional top-level athletes S0 T values depend on the number of competition days of the previous month. We observed a similar decrease in the T levels in both teams, independent of the absolute S0 values. In both teams C decreased during long-lasting cycling competition.