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Related Experiment Videos

Relationships between testosterone, cortisol and performance in professional cyclists

A R Hoogeveen1, M L Zonderland

  • 1Sint Joseph Ziekenhuis, Veldhoven, Netherlands.

International Journal of Sports Medicine
|August 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Hormonal markers like testosterone and cortisol do not reliably predict performance changes in cyclists. Training can increase catabolic state without negatively impacting performance, challenging traditional overtraining indicators.

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Area of Science:

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Sports Science

Background:

  • Plasma levels of cortisol and testosterone, along with their ratio, are often used to guide training management.
  • Decreased testosterone and increased cortisol suggest an imbalance in anabolic-catabolic state, potentially leading to reduced performance.
  • The relationship between hormonal responses to exercise and performance requires further investigation in trained athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between acute hormonal responses to exercise and resting levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and cortisol with cycling performance.
  • To examine the influence of a training period on these hormonal correlations with performance.

Main Methods:

  • Ten professional cyclists underwent hormonal measurements (testosterone, LH, cortisol) and performance tests (maximum workload, workload at 4 mmol/l lactate) before and after a training period.

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  • Acute hormonal responses to a bout of exercise were also assessed.

    • Main Results:

    • Performance metrics, including maximum workload and workload at 4 mmol/l lactate, significantly increased post-training.
    • Resting testosterone levels decreased, while resting cortisol levels increased post-training, indicating a shift towards a catabolic state.
    • No significant correlation was found between resting hormonal levels, acute exercise-induced hormonal responses, and performance, either pre or post-training.

    Conclusions:

    • Despite an increased catabolic state post-training, performance improved in endurance-trained cyclists.
    • Decreased testosterone and increased cortisol levels, or a reduced testosterone:cortisol ratio, do not automatically signify overtraining or performance decline in this population.
    • Hormonal markers alone may not be sufficient for managing training in highly trained cyclists.