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Int J Sports Med 1987; 08: S154-S160
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1025722
Chapter 4

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effect of a 3-Month Endurance Training Program on Metabolic and Multiple Hormonal Responses to Exercise*

H. A. Keizer1 , H. Kuipers1 , J. de Haan2 , G. M. E. Janssen3 , E. Beckers3 , L. Habets4 , G. van Kranenburg1 , P. Geurten1
  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Limburg
  • 2Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Academic Hospital
  • 3Department of Human Biology, University of Limburg
  • 4Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry, Academic Hospital, Maastricht, The Netherlands
* Supported by a grant from the Stichting Nationale Sporttotalisator, The Hague, The Netherlands.
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Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

We have investigated the effect of a 3-month endurance training program (running and cycling) on plasma hormone responses during standardized bicycle ergometer work (15-min consecutive work loads of 60%, 70%, 80%, and eventually 90% V̇O2 max) in eight previously untrained eumenorrheic women. The subjects were investigated before and after training both in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle (between the 7th-10th and 20th-25th days of their menstrual cycle, respectively). Blood was obtained 15 and 2 min before the onset of exercise and at the end of each work load from an indwelling catheter. In each sample, the plasma concentrations of estradiol 17β (E2), progesterone (P), testosterone (T), androstenedione (Δ4-A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), prolactin (PRL), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were assayed in duplicate by RIA; lactate was assayed as well. The hormone concentrations were expressed in absolute as well as in relative values.

After training basal DHEA-S and ACTH levels were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in both phases of the menstrual cycle, whereas basal luteal phase E2 and T levels were significantly (0.05 > P > 0.01) lower after training.

Exercise induced significant increments in the relative values of ail hormones in both phases (0.05 > P > 0.001). After training, T and DHEA-S increased relatively more pronounced (0.05 > P > 0.02) in the follicular and luteal phase, respectively.

Key words

exercise - training - ovarian and adrenal hormones - prolactin - adrenocorticotropic hormone

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