Acute resistance exercise does not change the hormonal response to sublingual androstenediol intake

Abstract

Sublingual intake of 21.4 mg androstenediol increases serum testosterone concentrations whereas swallowing 200 mg androstenediol does not. The duration of increase in serum testosterone following sublingual androstenediol (SL-DIOL) is unknown. Resistance exercise (EX) following SL-DIOL may cause larger increases in serum estradiol concentrations than while at rest. This project evaluated the duration of change in, and the effects of acute EX on, the hormonal response to SL-DIOL. Six young resistance trained males consumed either placebo (PL) or SL-DIOL before a single session of EX or no exercise (Rest) in a random, double blind, crossover manner (for a total of four trials). Blood samples were collected before supplementation, and at 60, 120, 180, 240, 480, and 720 min post-supplementation, with the exercise occurring between 60 and 120 min. The serum [total testosterone] increased (P < 0.05) at 60 min similarly in SL-DIOL-EX and SL-DIOL-Rest by approximately 115%, and at 120 min by approximately 107% with no differences due to exercise. The serum [estradiol] increased (P < 0.05) similarly in SL-DIOL-EX and SL-DIOL-Rest by approximately 33% at 60 min and approximately 45% at 120 min, with no differences due to exercise. Serum [testosterone] returned to baseline by 240 min and serum [estradiol] returned to baseline by 720 min post-intake. These findings indicate that SL-DIOL acutely elevates serum testosterone and estradiol concentrations, that EX does not alter the endocrine response to SL-DIOL, and that the increases in serum estradiol last between 480 and 720 min while the increases in serum testosterone last <240 min following acute SL-DIOL intake.

ISSN exercise & sport nutrition review: research & recommendations

“…Consequently, a number of over-the-counter supplements contain prohormones. While there is some data indicating that prohormones increase testosterone levels [231,232], there is virtually no evidence that these compounds affect training adaptations in younger men with normal hormone levels. In fact, most studies indicate that they do not affect testosterone and that some may actually increase estrogen levels and reduce HDL-cholesterol [220,231,233-238].…”

ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations

“…Their use has been suggested to naturally boost levels of these anabolic hormones. While data is available demonstrating increases in testosterone [ 389 , 390 ], virtually no evidence exists demonstrating heightened training adaptations in younger men with normal hormone levels. In fact, most studies indicate that they do not affect testosterone and that some may actually increase estrogen levels and reduce HDL-cholesterol [ 378 , 389 , 391 – 396 ].…”

Effects of eight weeks of an alleged aromatase inhibiting nutritional supplement 6-OXO (androst-4-ene-3,6,17-trione) on serum hormone profiles and clinical safety markers in resistance-trained, eugonadal males

“…These compounds are alleged to increase TST, or to increase the concentration of compounds that can act like TST. There are data in young men demonstrating that the acute sublingual ingestion of androstenedione and androstenediol increased FT and TT up to 180 min [ 8 ] and 240 min [ 9 ] after ingestion. However, these are acute studies with a small window of TST elevation and do not relevantly reflect the manner in which these types of supplements are typically utilized.…”