Low testosterone: Androgen deficiency, endurance exercise training, and competitive performance
1Department of Exercise & Sport Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Physiology International
|December 19, 2019
Summary
Intensive endurance training significantly lowered resting testosterone (T) and T:C ratio in males, with about 50% meeting androgen deficiency (AD) criteria. Decreased T or T:C ratio does not always impair performance.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Intensive endurance training impacts male hormonal profiles.
- Understanding the relationship between training load, testosterone, and cortisol is crucial for athlete health and performance.
- Androgen deficiency (AD) has significant health implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To track weekly changes in resting testosterone (T), cortisol (C), and the T:C ratio during intense endurance training.
- To determine if male athletes meet clinical criteria for androgen deficiency (AD) based on T levels during training.
Main Methods:
- An 18-week endurance training program with progressive increases in training volume.
- Weekly assessment of blood testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) levels.
- Evaluation of competitive running performance and T:C ratio at regular intervals.
Main Results:
- Running performance improved significantly throughout the training period.
- Testosterone (T) levels decreased significantly from baseline, with the greatest reduction observed at week 13.
- The T:C ratio also significantly decreased, particularly at week 13, while cortisol (C) levels showed high variability without significant changes.
- Approximately 50% of participants met the criteria for androgen deficiency (AD).
Conclusions:
- Decreases in testosterone or the T:C ratio during intense training do not necessarily indicate compromised athletic performance.
- Clinicians and sports scientists should be aware that high training loads can induce androgen deficiency (AD) in male athletes.
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