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IS EXERCISE CORTISOL RESPONSE OF ENDURANCE ATHLETES SIMILAR TO LEVELS OF CUSHING'S SYNDROME?
1Endocrine Section - Applied Physiology Laboratory, Dept. of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina, USA.
Biology of Sport
|August 3, 2019
Summary
Intensive exercise significantly elevates cortisol levels in endurance athletes, temporarily mimicking Cushing's Syndrome. This cortisol response is transient, quickly returning to normal levels post-exercise.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Overtraining Syndrome (OTS) in athletes is theorized to involve hypercortisolemic states.
- Intensive exercise and competition stress may lead to neuroendocrine dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cortisol levels in endurance athletes after strenuous exercise to those in Cushing's Syndrome patients.
- To investigate if exercise can induce cortisol elevations comparable to Cushing's Syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Cortisol levels were measured in highly trained endurance athletes at rest and post-intense exercise (85 min at 75% VO2max).
- Athlete cortisol levels were compared to resting cortisol levels in Cushing's Syndrome patients.
Main Results:
- Intensive exercise significantly elevated cortisol levels in athletes (p<0.001).
- Exercise-induced cortisol levels in athletes approached those seen in Cushing's Syndrome patients.
- The cortisol elevation in athletes was transient and rapidly subsided.
Conclusions:
- Exercise-induced cortisol responses can temporarily reach levels similar to Cushing's Syndrome.
- The transient nature of this response suggests it may not be indicative of a persistent pathological state in athletes.