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Published on: December 18, 2013
An update: salivary hormones and physical exercise
1U.O. of Endocrinology, Department of Surgery and Medical Sciences, University of Padova (I), Padova, Italy.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|December 7, 2010
Summary
Saliva analysis offers a non-invasive method to assess athletes' physiological stress, with salivary cortisol levels correlating to psychological indicators and anxiety during exercise. This highlights saliva as a viable alternative to serum for monitoring steroid hormones in sports science.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science and Exercise Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Saliva contains diverse biomolecules, including inorganic, organic, protein, and lipid compounds.
- Hormones like steroids, typically measured in plasma, are also detectable in oral fluid.
- The accessibility and hormonal characteristics of saliva make it a potential alternative to serum for physiological monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the relationship between salivary steroids and psycho-physiological stress in athletes.
- To explore the utility of salivary cortisol as an indicator of psychological state and anxiety related to exercise performance.
- To examine the correlation between salivary and plasma steroid hormone levels during physical activity.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies focusing on salivary hormone measurements, primarily steroids, in the context of physical exercise.
- Analysis of correlations between salivary and plasma levels of cortisol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) during exercise.
- Consideration of how exercise type, duration, intensity, and training conditions affect salivary steroid concentrations.
Main Results:
- Salivary cortisol measurements can serve as a self-report indicator of psychological state and anxiety changes associated with exercise performance.
- Salivary and plasma steroid hormone levels (cortisol, testosterone, DHEA) show correlation during exercise.
- Exercise parameters (type, duration, intensity) and training conditions significantly influence salivary steroid concentrations, mirroring serum variations.
Conclusions:
- Saliva is a promising alternative to serum for monitoring steroid hormone responses to exercise and stress in athletes.
- Measurement of salivary steroids provides valuable insights into the psycho-physiological stress experienced by athletes.
- The use of saliva in sports disciplines for hormonal analysis represents a significant future perspective.
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