Exercise-Induced Salivary Hormone Responses to High-Intensity, Self-Paced Running

Abstract

Purpose: Physical overexertion can lead to detrimental overreaching states without sufficient recovery, which may be identifiable by blunted exercise-induced cortisol and testosterone responses. A running test (RPETP) elicits reproducible plasma cortisol and testosterone elevations (in a healthy state) and may detect blunted hormonal responses in overreached athletes. This current study determined the salivary cortisol and testosterone responses reproducibility to the RPETP, to provide greater practical validity using saliva compared with the previously utilized blood sampling. Second, the relationship between the salivary and plasma responses was assessed. Methods: A total of 23 active, healthy males completed the RPETP on 3 occasions. Saliva (N = 23) and plasma (N = 13) were collected preexercise, postexercise, and 30 minutes postexercise. Results: Salivary cortisol did not elevate in any RPETP trial, and reduced concentrations occurred 30 minutes postexercise (P = .029, η2 = .287); trial differences were observed (P < .001, η2 = .463). The RPETP elevated (P < .001, η2 = .593) salivary testosterone with no effect of trial (P = .789, η2 = .022). Intraindividual variability was 25% in cortisol and 17% in testosterone. “Fair” intraclass coefficients of .46 (cortisol) and .40 (testosterone) were found. Salivary and plasma cortisol positively correlated (R = .581, P = .037) yet did not for testosterone (R = .345, P = .248). Conclusions: The reproducibility of salivary testosterone response to the RPETP is evident and supports its use as a potential tool, subject to further confirmatory work, to detect hormonal dysfunction during overreaching. Salivary cortisol responds inconsistently in a somewhat individualized manner to the RPETP.

Polymorphonuclear leucocyte phagocytic function, γδ T-lymphocytes and testosterone as separate stress-responsive markers of prolonged, high-intensity training programs

“…The analysis has been completed according to its authors’ guidelines ( Kellmann and Kallus, 2001 ). Then, the RPE TP (a 30-min, self-paced running bout that has been detailed elsewhere ( Leal et al., 2019 ; Leal et al., 2021 ) and in Fig. 1 ) was undertaken (~12:00 p.m.), and venous blood and saliva samples were collected pre-, post- and 30 ​min post-exercise.…”

“…Unstimulated passive drool saliva collection was performed for 3 ​min into 7 ​mL polystyrene sterile aliquots (Sterilin, Thermo Scientific, Loughborough, UK) as detailed elsewhere ( Leal et al., 2021 ). To avoid dilution of the sample water consumption was not allowed in the 10 ​min preceding this procedure.…”

“…Despite the interest in the findings, these authors focused on cycling exercise only. To allow for a broader population to be tested, a self-paced, 30-min running bout (the RPE TP ) has been developed, which has been shown to induce acute reproducible physiological and endocrine responses with a significant elevation of plasma testosterone ( Leal et al., 2019 ) and salivary testosterone ( Leal et al., 2021 ) observed, suggesting that the RPE TP may also highlight blunted exercise-induced testosterone responses following an intensified-training period.…”

The effect of exercise during sport training on levels of salivary diagnostic markers

“…While blood samples have historically been used to measure numerous parameters, indicators of physiological and pathological processes in the organism, many of them could be analyzed in much easier, less complex and completely non-invasive way in the saliva samples [3,4]. Saliva has been used to examine hydration, electrolyte status, stress and immune responses during and after physical activity [5,6,7].…”

“…During prolonged and intense exercise, due to the increased sympathetic stimulation, reduced salivary flow rate is expected. Qualitative and quantitative changes are described by the increased concentration of total protein, cortisol, and hormones in saliva during the stressful period, as well as by the alterations in ionic composition of saliva [5][6][7][8]. Immediately after intense physical activity, saliva remains viscous for some time, although the control of saliva secretion is no longer under sympathetic nervous system.…”