Int J Sports Med 2002; 23(7): 510-515
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-35073
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Cortisol, DHEA, Performance and Training in Elite Swimmers

J.-C.  Chatard1 , D.  Atlaoui1 , G.  Lac2 , M.  Duclos3 , S.  Hooper4 , L.  Mackinnon4
  • 1Laboratoire de Physiologie, GIP Exercice, Faculté de Médecine Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne, France
  • 2Laboratoire de la Performance Motrice, UFR STAPS, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, France
  • 3Laboratoire Neurogénétique et Stress, Université Bordeaux II, France
  • 4School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: March 20, 2002

Publication Date:
28 October 2002 (online)

Abstract

Salivary cortisol (C) and DHEA concentrations were measured in 9 elite swimmers (4 female and 5male) over a 37-week period, 5 to 12 times per swimmer, before 68 competitions. For female and male swimmers, no significant relationship was found between C, DHEA and performance. For the whole group, C was negatively correlated with week number of training (r = -0.31, p < 0.01). The incorporation of the cumulated distance swum as a second variable in the regression increased r to 0.56 (p < 0.01). The higher the cumulated distance swum, the higher C. No significant relationship was found between DHEA and distance swum. For individual swimmers, 3 of 4 females showed a significant negative relationship between C and cumulated dry-land training. No equivalent relationship was found for DHEA. The 2 males practicing dry-land training showed a significant and negative relationship between DHEA and cumulated dry-land training. No equivalent relationship was found for C. Thus, C and DHEA were not good predictors of swimming performance. C for individual females, and DHEA for individual males were considered useful markers for dry-land training stress.

References

  • 1 Bonifazi M, Bela E, Carli G, Lodi L, Martelli G, Zhu B, Lupo C. Influence of training on the response of androgen plasma concentrations to exercise in swimmers.  Eur J AppI Physiol. 1995;  70 109-114
  • 2 Carli G, Martelli G, Viti A, Baldi L, Bonifazi M, Lupo Di Prisco C. The effect of swimming training on hormone levels in girls.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1983;  23 45-51
  • 3 Costill D L, Thomas R, Robergs R A, Pascoe D, Lambert C, Barr S, Fink WJ. Adaptations to swimming training: influence of training volume.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1991;  23 371-377
  • 4 Cumming D C, Quigley M E, Yen S S. Acute suppression of circulating testosterone levels by cortisol in men.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983;  57 671-673
  • 5 de Souza M J, Arce JC, Pescatello L S, Scherzer H S, Luciano A A. Gonadal hormones and semen quality in male runners. A volume threshold effect of endurance training.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 383-391
  • 6 Duclos M. Effects of physical training on endocrine functions.  Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2001;  62 19-32
  • 7 Duclos M, Corcuff J B, Arsac L, Moreau-Gaudry F, Rashedi M, Roger P, Tabarin A, Manier G. Corticotroph axis sensitivity after exercise in endurance-trained athletes.  Clin Endocrinol. 1998;  48 493-501
  • 8 Duclos M, Corcuff J B, Rashedi M, Fougere V, Manier G. Trained versus untrained men: different immediate post-exercise responses of pituitary adrenal axis. A preliminary study.  Eur J AppI Physiol. 1997;  75 343-350
  • 9 Duclos M, Corcuff J B, Ruffie A, Roger P, Manier G. Rapid leptin decrease in immediate post-exercise recovery.  Clin Endocrinol. 1999;  50 337-342
  • 10 Ebeling P, Koivisto V A. Physiological importance of dehydroepiandrosterone.  Lancet. 1994;  343 1479-1481
  • 11 Filaire E, Duche P, Lac G, Robert A. Saliva cortisol, physical exercise and training: influences of swimming and handball on cortisol concentrations in women.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  74 274-278
  • 12 Filaire E, Lac G. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) rather than testosterone shows saliva androgen responses to exercise in elite female handball players.  Int J Sports Med. 2000;  21 17-20
  • 13 Flynn M G, Pizza F X, Boone J B Jr, Andres F F, Michaud T A, Rodriguez-Zayas J R. Indices of training stress during competitive running and swimming seasons.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 21-26
  • 14 Flynn M G, Pizza F X, Brolinson P G. Hormonal responses to excessive training: influence of cross training.  Int J Sports Med. 1997;  18 191-196
  • 15 Fry A C, Kraemer W J. Resistance exercise overtraining and overreaching. Neuroendocrine responses.  Sports Med. 1997;  23 106-129
  • 16 Gilian L, Tyndall G L, Kobe R W, Houmard J A. Cortisol, testosterone, and insulin action during intense swimming training in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  73 61-65
  • 17 Hakkinen K, Keskinen K L, Alen M, Komi P V, Kauhanen H. Serum hormone concentrations during prolonged training in elite endurance-trained and strength-trained athletes.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1989;  59 233-238
  • 18 Hakkinen K, Pakarinen A, Alen M, Kauhanen H, Komi P V. Daily hormonal and neuromuscular responses to intensive strength training in 1 week.  Int J Sports Med. 1988;  9 422-428
  • 19 Hooper S L, MacKinnon L T, Gordon R D, Bachmann A W. Hormonal responses of elite swimmers to overtraining.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;  25 741-747
  • 20 Hooper S L, Mackinnon L T, Howard A. Physiological and psychometric variables for monitoring recovery during tapering for major competition.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 1205-1210
  • 21 Hooper S L, Mackinnon L T, Howard A, Gordon R D, Bachmann A W. Markers for monitoring overtraining and recovery.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;  27 106-112
  • 22 Kirwan J P, Costill D L, Flynn M G, Mitchell J B, Fink W J, Neufer P D, Houmard J A. Physiological responses to successive days of intense training in competitive swimmers.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1988;  20 255-259
  • 23 Lac G, Lac N, Robert A. Steroid assays in saliva: a method to detect plasmatic contaminations.  Arch Int Physiol Biochim Biophys. 1993;  101 257-262
  • 24 Laudat M H, Cerdas S, Fournier C, Guiban D, Guilhaume B, Luton J P. Salivary cortisol measurement: a practical approach to assess pituitary-adrenal function.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988;  66 343-348
  • 25 Maccario M, Mazza E, Ramunni J, Oleandri S E, Savio P, Grottoli S, Rossetto R, Procopio M, Gauna C, Ghigo E. Relationships between dehydroepiandrosteronesulphate and anthropometric, metabolic and hormonal variables in a large cohort of obese women.  Clin Endocrinol. 1999;  50 595-600
  • 26 Mackinnon L T, Hooper S L, Jones S, Gordon R D, Bachmann A W. Hormonal, immunological, and hematological responses to intensified training in elite swimmers.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;  29 1637-1645
  • 27 Mujika I. The influence of training characteristics and tapering on the adaptation in highly trained individuals: a review.  Int J Sports Med. 1998;  19 439-446
  • 28 Mujika I, Chatard J C, Padilla S, Guézennec C Y, Geyssant A. Hormonal responses to training and its tapering off in competitive swimmers: relationships with performance.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  74 361-366
  • 29 Passelergue P, Lac G. Saliva cortisol, testosterone and T/C ratio variations during a wrestling competition and during the post-competitive recovery period.  Int J Sports Med. 1999;  20 109-113
  • 30 Snegovskaya V, Viru A. Elevation of cortisol and growth hormone levels in the course of further improvement of performance capacity in trained rowers.  Int J Sports Med. 1993;  14 202-206
  • 31 Tanaka H, Costill D L, Thomas R, Fink W J, Widrick J J. Dry-land resistance training for competitive swimming.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;  25 952-929
  • 32 Urhausen A, Gabriel H, Kindermann W. Blood hormones as markers of training stress and overtraining.  Sports Med. 1995;  20 251-276
  • 33 Volek J S, Kraemer W J, Bush J A, Incledon T, Boetes M. Testosterone and cortisol in relationship to dietary nutrients and resistance exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1997;  82 49-54
  • 34 Walker B. Glucocorticoid sensitivity in humans.  Curr Opin Endocrinol Diab. 1998;  5 168-174

Dr. J.-C. Chatard

Laboratoire de Physiologie

Pavillon 12, St-JB · 42 055 Saint-Etienne cedex 2 · France ·

Fax: +33 (477) 127229

Email: chatard@univ-st-etienne.fr

    >