The effect of acute exercise on the cortisol awakening response
Travis Anderson1, Suzanne Vrshek-Schallhorn2, William M Adams3,4,5
1Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA. t_ander2@uncg.edu.
European Journal of Applied Physiology
|January 11, 2023
Summary
Late-evening exercise significantly reduces the cortisol awakening response (CAR) the next morning. This finding suggests the CAR may be a useful biomarker for monitoring exercise training adaptations.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a diurnal rhythm crucial for physiological function.
- The impact of acute late-evening exercise on the CAR remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a single bout of late-evening exercise on the morning cortisol awakening response.
- To determine if evening exercise alters cortisol levels upon waking.
Main Methods:
- Twelve healthy participants completed two evening laboratory sessions: one hour of moderate-intensity exercise (70-75% maximal power output) and a resting control.
- Blood and saliva samples were collected to measure cortisol concentrations.
- Mixed-effects models analyzed the impact of exercise on the CAR using quadratic growth models.
Main Results:
- Exercise induced a significant increase in circulating cortisol during the session (477.3%).
- Evening exercise resulted in significantly lower serum and salivary cortisol concentrations the following morning.
- Statistical analysis showed a significant negative effect of the exercise condition on both serum (β = -42.26, p < 0.001) and salivary cortisol (β = -11.55, p < 0.001) awakening responses.
Conclusions:
- Acute late-evening exercise blunts the cortisol awakening response the subsequent morning.
- The CAR may serve as a potential biomarker for assessing physiological responses to exercise training.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind exercise-induced alterations in the CAR.
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