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Cytokine and hormone responses to resistance training

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Abstract

This study examined the effects of heavy resistance training on physiological acute exercise-induced fatigue (5 × 10 RM leg press) changes after two loading protocols with the same relative intensity (%) (5 × 10 RMRel) and the same absolute load (kg) (5 × 10 RMAbs) as in pretraining in men (n = 12). Exercise-induced neuromuscular (maximal strength and muscle power output), acute cytokine and hormonal adaptations (i.e., total and free testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 and metabolic responses (i.e., blood lactate) were measured before and after exercise. The resistance training induced similar acute responses in serum cortisol concentration but increased responses in anabolic hormones of FT and GH, as well as inflammation-responsive cytokine IL-6 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, when the same relative load was used. This response was balanced by a higher release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and cytokine inhibitors (IL-1ra) when both the same relative and absolute load was used after training. This enhanced hormonal and cytokine response to strength exercise at a given relative exercise intensity after strength training occurred with greater accumulated fatigue and metabolic demand (i.e., blood lactate accumulation). The magnitude of metabolic demand or the fatigue experienced during the resistance exercise session influences the hormonal and cytokine response patterns. Similar relative intensities may elicit not only higher exercise-induced fatigue but also an increased acute hormonal and cytokine response during the initial phase of a resistance training period.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Ministry of Education (National Plan of R&D + i 2004-2007. Key Action “Sport and Physical Activity” DEP2006-56076)

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest relevant to the content of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Studies, Research and Sport Medicine Center, Government of Navarra, C/Sangüesa 34, 31005, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain

    Mikel Izquierdo, Javier Ibañez, Ion Navarro-Amezqueta, Miriam González-Izal & Esteban M. Gorostiaga

  2. Department of Physical Education, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

    Jose A. L. Calbet

  3. Departament of Radiology, Clinic of San Miguel, Pamplona, Spain

    Fernando Idoate

  4. Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Keijo Häkkinen

  5. Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269-1110, USA

    William J. Kraemer

  6. Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269-1110, USA

    William J. Kraemer

  7. Biochemistry Unit, Hospital of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain

    Mercedes Palacios-Sarrasqueta

  8. Institute of Biomedicine, University of León, 24071, León, Spain

    Mar Almar

Authors
  1. Mikel Izquierdo
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  2. Javier Ibañez
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  5. Miriam González-Izal
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  6. Fernando Idoate
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  7. Keijo Häkkinen
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  8. William J. Kraemer
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  9. Mercedes Palacios-Sarrasqueta
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  10. Mar Almar
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  11. Esteban M. Gorostiaga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mikel Izquierdo.

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Izquierdo, M., Ibañez, J., Calbet, J.A.L. et al. Cytokine and hormone responses to resistance training. Eur J Appl Physiol 107, 397–409 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1139-x

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