Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(5): 401-406
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924366
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Hormonal Responses after a Strength Endurance Resistance Exercise Protocol in Young and Elderly Males

I. Smilios1 , T. Pilianidis1 , M. Karamouzis2 , A. Parlavantzas1 , S. P. Tokmakidis1
  • 1Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece
  • 2Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: May 10, 2006

Publication Date:
06 October 2006 (online)

Abstract

This study examined testosterone, cortisol and growth hormone responses in elderly and young men after a strength endurance protocol. Eight elderly (age: 69 ± 5 yrs) and nine young (age: 23 ± 1 yrs) males with recreational experience in resistance training performed a strength endurance protocol, which included six exercises. At each exercise, the subjects performed 3 sets of 15 reps at 60 % of 1-RM with a 90 s rest interval between sets. The subjects also participated in a control session. Hormonal and blood lactate concentrations were measured before exercise, immediately after exercise and 15 min after the end of exercise. Blood lactate increased (p < 0.05) with resistance exercise in both age groups with the highest increases observed in the young males. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) immediately and 15 min after exercise as compared to the respective control session values in both young and elderly subjects, whereas no differences were observed between groups (p > 0.05). Growth hormone concentration increased (p < 0.05) after resistance exercise compared to the control session in both age groups. This increase was higher (p < 0.05) in the young as compared to the elderly group. The above results show that a moderate intensity - high repetition resistance exercise protocol for the improvement of strength endurance, seems to be a sufficient stimulus that increases testosterone, growth hormone and cortisol concentrations in elderly males. These hormonal responses may create an optimal metabolic environment, which improves muscular function after a strength endurance program although the elderly subjects present an attenuated growth hormone response compared to younger ones.

References

  • 1 American College of Sports Medicine . Position stand: the recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 975-991
  • 2 Craig B W, Brown R, Everhart J. Effects of progressive resistance training on growth hormone and testosterone levels in young and elderly subjects.  Mech Aging Develop. 1989;  49 159-169
  • 3 Crowley M, Matt K S. Hormonal regulation of skeletal muscle hypertrophy in rats: the testosterone to cortisol ratio.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  73 66-72
  • 4 Deschenes M R. Effects of aging on muscle fiber size and type.  Sports Med. 2004;  34 809-824
  • 5 Doherty T J. Invited review: aging and sarcopenia.  J Appl Physiol. 2003;  95 1717-1727
  • 6 Feigenbaum M S, Polloc M L. Prescription of resistance training for health and disease.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 38-45
  • 7 Ferrando A A, Tipton K D, Doyle D, Phillips S M, Cortiella J, Wolfe R R. Testosterone injection stimulates net protein synthesis but not tissue amino acid transport.  Am J Physiol. 1998;  275 E864-E871
  • 8 Ferri A, Scaglioni G, Pousson M, Capodaglio P, Van Hoecke J, Narici M V. Strength and power changes of the human plantar flexors and knee extensors in response to resistance training in old age.  Acta Physiol Scand. 2003;  177 69-78
  • 9 Fryburg D A, Barrett E J. Growth hormone acutely stimulates skeletal muscle but not whole-body protein synthesis in humans.  Metabolism. 1993;  42 1223-1227
  • 10 Goto K, Ishii N, Kizuka T, Takamatsu K. The impact of metabolic stress on hormonal responses and muscular adaptations.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005;  37 955-963
  • 11 Hakkinen K, Kraemer W J, Pakarinen A, Triplett-McBride T, McBride J M, Hakkinen A, Alen M, McGuigan M R, Bronks R, Newton R U. Effects of heavy resistance/power training on maximal strength, muscle morphology, and hormonal response patterns in 65 - 75 year old men and women.  Can J Appl Physiol. 2002;  27 213-231
  • 12 Hakkinen K, Pakarinen A. Acute hormonal responses to heavy resistance exercise in men and women at different ages.  Int J Sports Med. 1995;  16 507-513
  • 13 Hakkinen K, Pakarinen A, Kraemer W J, Newton R U, Alen M. Basal concentrations and acute responses of serum hormones and strength development during heavy resistance training in middle-aged and elderly men and women.  J Geront. 2000;  55 A B95-B105
  • 14 Hakkinen K, Pakarinen A, Newton R U, Kraemer W J. Acute hormone responses to heavy resistance lower and upper extremity exercise in young versus old men.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1998;  77 312-319
  • 15 Harman S M, Metter J, Tobin J D, Pearson J, Blackman M R. Longitudinal effects of aging on serum total and free testosterone levels in healthy men.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;  86 724-731
  • 16 Harris C, DeBeliso M A, Spitzer-Gibson T A, Adams K J. The effect of resistance-intensity on strength-gain response in the older adult.  J Strength Cond Res. 2004;  18 833-838
  • 17 Hasten D L, Pak-Loduca J, Obert K A, Yarasheski K E. Resistance exercise acutely increases MHC and mixed muscle protein synthesis rates in 78 - 84 and 23 - 32 yr olds.  Am J Physiol. 2000;  278 E620-E626
  • 18 Izquierdo M, Hakkinen K, Ibanez J, Garrues M, Anton A, Zuniga A, Larrion J L, Gorostiaga E M. Effects of strength training on muscle power and serum hormones in middle-aged and older men.  J Appl Physiol. 2001;  90 1497-1507
  • 19 Janssen I, Heymsfield S B, Wang Z, Ross R. Skeletal muscle mass and distribution in 468 men and women aged 18 - 88 yr.  J Appl Physiol. 2000;  89 81-88
  • 20 Ju G. Evidence for direct neural regulation of the mammalian anterior pituitary.  Clin Exp Pharm Phys. 1999;  26 757-759
  • 21 Kadi F, Bonnerud P, Eriksson A, Thornell L E. The expression of androgen receptors in human neck and limb muscles: effects of training and self-administration of androgenic-anabolic steroids.  Histochem Cell Biol. 2000;  113 25-29
  • 22 Kalapotharakos V I, Michalopoulos M, Godolias G, Tokmakidis S P, Malliou P, Gourgoulis V. The effects of high and moderate resistance training on muscle function in the elderly.  J Aging Phys Activ. 2004;  12 131-143
  • 23 Kalapotharakos V I, Michalopoulos M, Tokmakidis S P, Godolias G, Gourgoulis V. Effects of a heavy and a moderate resistance training on functional performance in older adults.  J Strength Cond Res. 2005;  19 652-657
  • 24 Kayali A G, Young V R, Goodman M N. Sensitivity of myofibrillar proteins to glucocorticoid-induced muscle proteolysis.  Am J Physiol. 1987;  252 E621-E626
  • 25 Keppel G. Design and Analysis: A Researchers Handbook. 3rd edn. Upper Saddle River, NJ; Prentice-Hall Inc. 1991 63-91 221-224
  • 26 Kraemer W J, Hakkinen K, Newton R U, McCormick M, Nindl B C, Volek J S, Gotshalk L A, Fleck S J, Campell W W, Gordon S E, Farrell P A, Evans W J. Acute hormonal responses to heavy resistance exercise in younger and older men.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1998;  77 206-211
  • 27 Kraemer W J, Marchitelli L, Gordon S E, Harman E, Dziados J E, Mello R, Frykman P, McCurry D, Fleck S J. Hormonal and growth factor responses to heavy resistance exercise protocols.  J Appl Physiol. 1990;  69 1442-1450
  • 28 Kraemer W J, Ratamess N A. Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training.  Sports Med. 2005;  35 339-361
  • 29 Macaluso A, De Vito G. Muscle strength, power and adaptations to resistance training in older people.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004;  91 450-472
  • 30 McCall G E, Grindeland R E, Roy R R, Edgerton V R. Muscle afferent activity modulates bioassayable growth hormone in human plasma.  J Appl Physiol. 2000;  89 1137-1141
  • 31 Nicklas B J, Ryan A J, Treuth M M, Harman S M, Blackman M R, Hurley B F, Rogers M A. Testosterone, growth hormone and IGF‐I response to acute and chronic resistive exercise in men aged 55 - 70 years.  Int J Sports Med. 1995;  16 445-450
  • 32 Pyka G, Wiswell R A, Marcus R. Age - dependent effect of resistance exercise on growth hormone secretion in people.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992;  75 404-407
  • 33 Scaglioni G, Ferri A, Minetti A E, Martin A, Van Hoecke J, Capodaglio P, Sartorio A, Narici M V. Plantar flexor activation capacity and H reflex in older adults: adaptations to strength training.  J Appl Physiol. 2002;  92 2292-2302
  • 34 Smilios I, Pilianidis T, Karamouzis M, Tokmakidis S P. Hormonal responses after various resistance exercise protocols.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;  35 644-654
  • 35 Trappe S, Williamson D, Godard M, Porter D, Rowden G, Costill D. Effect of resistance training on single muscle fiber contractile function in older men.  J Appl Physiol. 2000;  89 143-152
  • 36 Vincent K R, Braith R W, Feldman R A, Magyari P M, Cutler R B, Persin S A, Lennon S L, Gabr A H, Lowenthal D T. Resistance exercise and physical performance in adults aged 60 to 83.  J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002;  50 1100-1107

Savvas P. Tokmakidis

Department of Physical Education and Sport Science
Democritus University of Thrace

University Campus (TEFAA)

Komotini 69100

Greece

Phone: + 30 25 31 03 96 49

Fax: + 30 25 31 03 96 83

Email: stokmaki@phyed.duth.gr