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Hormonal Adaptations in Professional Soccer Players: Ethnic Differences and Pathophysiological Mechanisms
Sandro La Vignera1, Rosita A Condorelli1
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Professional soccer players experience hormonal changes, including elevated cortisol and reduced testosterone-to-cortisol ratios, especially after intense competition. Ethnic background may influence these endocrine responses, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Professional soccer demands significant physiological exertion, leading to complex neuroendocrine adaptations.
- Understanding hormonal responses is crucial for optimizing athlete health and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review hormonal adaptations in professional soccer players, focusing on ethnic/national differences and mechanisms.
- To synthesize evidence on testosterone, cortisol, T:C ratio, GH, and IGF-1 responses.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 21 studies on hormonal responses to soccer training and competition.
- Analysis of testosterone, cortisol, T:C ratio, growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).
Main Results:
- Acute cortisol elevations (up to 72h post-match) and reduced T:C ratios after congested fixtures are common.
- Somatotropic responses (GH, IGF-1) show considerable variability.
- Preliminary data suggest ethnic/geographic influences on steroid profiles, potentially linked to UGT2B17 polymorphisms.
Conclusions:
- Hormonal dysregulation, involving HPA/HPG axis imbalance, can occur, potentially leading to non-functional overreaching (NFOR).
- Individualized monitoring of T:C ratio and load management are recommended.
- Further research is needed to establish ethnicity-specific norms and hormonal links to injury risk.
Keywords:
HPA axisHPG axisIGF-1UGT2B17cortisolethnic differencesgrowth hormoneovertraining syndromeprofessional soccertestosteroneMore Related Videos
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