The Testosterone: Cortisol Ratio - A Tool with Practical Use and Research Potential in Endocrinology

Testosterone is a predominantly anabolic hormone whereas cortisol is a catabolic hormone. Measurement of testosterone-cortisol ratio (TCR) can serve as a surrogate for the balance in the anabolic: catabolic states in the body and was studied as a marker in different aspects of sports endocrinology. However, data is limited and conflicting. A comprehensive search using the PubMed and Google Scholar data base was conducted to write a narrative review summarising all available evidences of TCR in endocrinology and their clinical. TCR has been found to be important in predicting overtraining syndrome, timing peak performance in competitive sports in athletes, psychologic stress, social aggressive behaviour and has also been tested as a marker of increased cardiovascular risk. However, there are several controversies regarding its application and a definite threshold has not been established. TCR has many potential applications in clinical endocrine practice but needs further research.