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Endocrine responses to marathon running.

C G Semple, J A Thomson, G H Beastall

British Journal of Sports Medicine

|September 1, 1985

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Marathon running significantly alters hormone levels in men. While thyroid hormones remain stable, steroid hormones like cortisol increase, and testosterone decreases, alongside luteinizing hormone (LH).

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Sports Medicine
Exercise Physiology

Background:

Marathon running is a strenuous physical activity.
Understanding the hormonal responses to endurance exercise is crucial for athletes and clinicians.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hormonal changes in healthy males after completing a marathon.
To analyze the impact of extreme exertion on thyroid hormones, steroid hormones, and gonadotropins.

Main Methods:

Blood samples were collected from ten healthy adult males post-marathon.
Serum levels of thyroxine, free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, thyroid stimulating hormone, cortisol, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, oestradiol, testosterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

Thyroid hormones and thyroid stimulating hormone levels remained unchanged.
Significant increases were observed in serum cortisol, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, and oestradiol (p < 0.01).
Serum testosterone and LH levels significantly decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), with no change in sex hormone binding globulin capacity.

Conclusions:

Marathon exertion induces significant alterations in the endocrine system of males.
The observed decrease in testosterone and LH warrants further investigation into its underlying mechanisms.
These hormonal changes are unlikely to have adverse long-term consequences.