Increases in aldosterone precede those of cortisol during graded exercise

The purpose of this study was to determine the intensity threshold needed to elicit increases in plasma aldosterone and cortisol during graded exercise in humans. Seven male volunteers performed a maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test on a cycle ergometer. Plasma levels of aldosterone, cortisol, angiotensin II, ACTH, and potassium were measured at rest and at each 50 W workload of the exercise test. The results showed that aldosterone significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05) increased from a mean (+/- SE) of 231 +/- 22 pmol/L at rest to 464 +/- 22 pmol/L at exhaustion. Cortisol significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05) increased from 284 +/- 38 nmol/L at rest to 311 +/- 39 nmol/L at exhaustion. More importantly, however, was the fact that aldosterone was significantly increased above the resting level at exercise intensities greater than or equal to 60% VO2max. Cortisol, on the other hand, was only significantly increased at exhaustion (i.e. 100% VO2max). These results clearly show that increases in aldosterone precede those of cortisol during graded exercise in humans. Interestingly, potassium (r = 0.79), ACTH (r = 0.55), and angiotensin II (r = 0.54) were all significantly correlated with aldosterone during exercise. Such a finding seems to suggest that all 3 variables may be important stimuli for aldosterone secretion during graded exercise.