Relationship between stress hormones and testosterone with prolonged endurance exercise

Abstract

Previous pharmacological and pathological studies have reported negative relationships between circulating testosterone and certain stress hormones (i.e., cortisol and prolactin) in humans. These relationships have subsequently been used in hypotheses explaining the subclinical resting testosterone levels often found in some endurance-trained males, but as of yet no one has specifically examined these relationships as they relate to exercise. Thus, we examined the relationship between total and free testosterone levels and cortisol, and between total and free testosterone and prolactin following prolonged endurance exercise in trained males. Twenty-two endurance-trained males volunteered to run at 100% of their ventilatory threshold (VT) on a treadmill until volitional fatigue. Blood samples were taken at pre-exercise baseline (B0); volitional fatigue (F0); 30 min (F30), 60 min (F60), and 90 min (F90) into recovery; and at 24 h post-baseline (P24 h). At F0 [mean running time = 84.8 (3.8) min], exercise induced significant changes (P<0.05) from B0 in total testosterone, cortisol and prolactin. All three of these hormones were still significantly elevated at F30; but at F60 only cortisol and prolactin were greater than their respective B0 values. Free testosterone displayed no significant changes from B0 at F0, F30, or the F60 time point. At F90, neither cortisol nor prolactin was significantly different from their B0 values, but total and free testosterone were reduced significantly from B0. Cortisol, total testosterone and free testosterone at P24 h were significantly lower than their respective B0 levels. Negative relationships existed between peak cortisol response (at time F30) versus total testosterone (at F90, r=-0.53, P<0.05; and at P24 h, r=-0.60, P<0.01). There were no significant relationships between prolactin and total or free testosterone. In conclusion, the present findings give credence to the hypothesis suggesting a linkage between the low resting testosterone found in endurance-trained runners and stress hormones, with respect to cortisol.

The order effect of combined endurance and strength loadings on force and hormone responses: effects of prolonged training

“…As shown previously, prolonged endurance performance may lead to reduced concentrations of serum cortisol for at least 24h in endurance trained subjects (Daly et al 2005) and may induce a temporal non-pathological hypothyroidism lasting for 12h to 72h (Moore et al 2005;Hackney et al 2012). Although in-line with previous investigations, the decreased concentrations of cortisol and TSH in the present study appeared not to be loading specific.…”

Associations of androgens with physical activity and fitness in young black and white men: The CARDIA Male Hormone Study

“…(Allen et al, 2002,Field et al, 1994,Gapstur et al, under review,Ukkola et al, 2001,Wu et al, 1995 Diet, alcohol and smoking also have been associated with serum testosterone. (Allen et al, 2002,Field et al, 1994,Ukkola et al, 2001 Despite associations between exercise and testosterone levels in experimental settings (Daly et al, 2005,Smilios et al, 2003,Zmuda et al, 1996, limited observational data exist on the potential associations of either physical activity or cardiovascular fitness with serum testosterone in US men. Most observational data suggest that physical activity is not a major contributor to testosterone levels after controlling for the confounding effects of age, BMI and race.…”

Effects of training time on serum immunoglobulin alterations and cortisol testosterone responses in male athlete students

“…Immunoglobulins are parts of immune system components, which are produced by the lymphocyte B in blood serum and tissue liquids in primates [7]. Stress is one of the stimulating factors of immune system, and physical activity can result in stress, which leads to changes in the system [2].…”

“…conditions (environmental effects, tension pressure, aerobic activity, injury, infection and so on), so it is called an adaptation hormone [2]. The amount of releasing factors, secretion of corticotrophin (CRH) and cortisol diminishes at the evening and increases in the early morning.…”