Summary
A study of 1 year was performed on nine elite endurance-trained athletes (swimmers) and on eight elite strength-trained athletes (weightlifters) in order to examine the effects of training on the endocrine responses and on physical performance capacity. The measurements for the determination of serum hormone concentrations were performed at about 4-month intervals during the course of the year. The primary findings demonstrated that during the first and most intensive training period of the year in preparing for the primary competitions similar but statistically insignificant changes were observed in the concentrations of serum testosterone, free testosterone and cortisol in both the endurance-trained and strength-trained groups. After that period the changes in hormonal response over the year were infrequent and minor. A significant (p<0.01) decrease occurred in the strength-trained group in serum-free testosterone during the second period, which was characterized by the highest overall amount of training. Over the entire year the concentrations of serum hormones remained statistically unaltered in both groups. Slight but statistically insignificant increases of 1.2%±0.8% and 2.1%±5.1% were observed in the competitive performances over the year in the endurance-trained and strength-trained groups, respectively. The present findings in the two groups of elite athletes, who differed greatly with regard to the type of physiological loading, demonstrated that the overall hormonal responses both during the most intensive and during prolonged training periods were rather similar and the infrequent small changes remained well within the normal physiological range. The observations further indicate that the training may not have been too strenuous, with no noticeable symptoms of overtraining, and/or that it could have been in greater amount and/or of greater intensity, leading perhaps to greater improvement in competitive performance capacity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aakvaag A, Bentdal Q, Quistad K, Walstad D, Rønningen H, Fonnum F (1978a) Testosterone and testosterone binding globulin (TeBG) in young men during prolonged stress. Int J Androl 1:22–31
Aakvaag A, Sand T, Opstad PK, Fonnum F (1978b) Hormonal changes in serum in young men during prolonged physical strain. Eur J Appl Physiol 39:283–291
Cadoux-Hudson TA, Few JD, Imms FJ (1985) The effect of exercise on the production and clearance of testosterone in well trained young men. Eur J Appl Physiol 54:321–325
Dessypris A, Kuoppasalmi K, Adlercreutz H (1976) Plasma cortisol, testosterone, androstenedione and luteinizing hormone (LH) in a non-competitive marathon run. J Steroid Biochem 7:33
Dulac S, Quiron A, Delarufel D, LeBlanc J, Jobin M, Cote J, Brisson GR, Lavoie JM, Diamond P (1987) Metabolic and hormonal responses to long-distance swimming in cold water. Int J Sports Med 8:352–356
Durnin J, Rahaman M (1967) The assessment of the amount of fat in the human body from measurements of skinfold thickness. Br J Nutr 21:681–689
Gollnick P (1981) Adaptations in skeletal muscle in response to training. In: Toshihiro Ishiko (ed) Physical fitness research. Proceedings of 1981 International Council on Physical Fitness Research. ICPFR, Tokyo, pp 21–31
Guezennec Y, Leger L, Lhoste F, Aymonod M, Pesquies PC (1986) Hormone and metabolite response to weight-lifting training sessions. Int J Sports Med 7:100–105
Häkkinen K (1985) Factors influencing trainability of muscular strength during short term and prolonged training. Nat Strength Cond Assoc J 2:32–37
Häkkinen K, Pakarinen A, Alén M, Komi PV (1985) Serum hormones during prolonged training of neuromuscular performance. Eur J Appl Physiol 53:287–293
Häkkinen K, Pakarinen A, Alén M, Kauhanen H, Komi PV (1987) Relationships between training volume physical performance capacity and serum hormone concentrations during prolonged training in elite weightlifters. Int J Sports Med [Suppl] 8:61–65
Häkkinen K, Pakarinen A, Alén M, Kauhanen H, Komi PV (1988a) Neuromuscular and hormonal responses in elite athletes to two successive strength training sessions in one day. Eur J Appl Physiol 57:133–139
Häkkinen K, Pakarinen A, Alén M, Kauhanen H, Komi PV (1988b) Daily hormonal and neuromuscular responses to intensive strength training in one week. Int J Sports Med 6:422–428
Komi PV (1986) Training of muscle strength and power: interaction of neuromotoric, hypertrophic, and mechanical factors. Int J Sports Med [Suppl] 7:10–15
Kuoppasalmi K, Adleroreutz H (1985) Interaction between catabolic and anabolic steroid hormones in muscular exercise. In: Fotherby K, Pal SB (eds) Exercise endocrinology. de Gruyter, Berlin, pp 65–98
Kuoppasalmi K, Näveri H, Kosunen K, Härkönen M, Adlercreutz H (1981) Plasma steroid levels in muscular exercise. In: Poortmans J, Niset G (eds) International series on sport sciences, vol 11B. Biochemistry of exercise IV-B. University Park Press, Baltimore, pp 149–160
MacDougal JD (1986) Morphological changes in human skeletal muscle following strength training and immobilization. In: Jones N, McCartney N, McComas A (eds) Human muscle power. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill., pp 269–288
Metivier G, Gauthier R, Cheurotiere J de la, Grymala D (1980) The effect of acute exercise on the serum levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone in human male athletes. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 20:235–238
Remes K, Kuoppasalmi K, Adlercreutz H (1985) Effect of physical exercise and sleep deprivation on plasma androgen levels: modifying effect of physical fitness. Int J Sports Med 6:131–135
Rusko H (1985) Youth and top-class sport: endurance training effects. Int Rev Sport Sci (ICSSPE/CIEPSS) 8:54–64 (ISSNO 256-4327)
Sale D (1986) Neural adaptation in strength and power training. In: Jones N, McCartney N, McComas A (eds) Human muscle power. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill., pp 289–307
Urhausen A, Kullner T, Kindermann W (1987) A 7-week follow-up study of the behavior of testosterone and cortisol during the competition period in rowers. Eur J Appl Physiol 56:528–533
Vittasalo J, Aura O (1984) Seasonal fluctuations of force production in high jumpers. Can J Appl Sport Sci 9:209–213
Wilkerson JE, Horvath SM, Gutin B (1980) Plasma testosterone during treadmill exercise. J Appl Physiol 49:249–253
Young RJ, Ismail AH, Brandley A, Corrigan DL (1976) Effect of prolonged exercise on serum testosterone levels in adult men. Br J Sports Med 10:230–235
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Häkkinen, K., Keskinen, K.L., Alén, M. et al. Serum hormone concentrations during prolonged training in elite endurance-trained and strength-trained athletes. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 59, 233–238 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02386193
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02386193