Abstract
Background: There are no data available yet regarding relationship between cardiopulmonary exercise testing and hormonal status in athletes.
Methods: A total of 86 elite athletes of winter sports (biathlon, ski, ice hockey, snowboard) aged 14-35 were included in the study. Total minute ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO2), V-slope anaerobic threshold (AT) and oxygen pulse (O2/HR) were analyzed (Oxycon Mobile, Viasys). Morning levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSG), free T4 (FT4), cortisol and testosterone were determined using electrochemical immunoassay. Blood samples were taking 7.00 - 8.00 am before exercise.
Results: In contrast to females, males had higher values of VE max, AT, VO2 max, O2/HR max and testosterone (p < 0.01 for all comparisons) and lower cortisol (p = 0.03). Males and females had comparable proportions of those who achieved AT during the exercise test (58% and 60% respectively). In athletes who achieved AT, testosterone level was two fold lower compared to those who did not achieved AT (16.2 nmol/l vs 31.8 nmol/l respectively, p = 0.03). We found the following correlations between (i) VE max and testosterone (rs=0.59; p<0.01); (ii) VO2 max and testosterone (rs=0.83; p<0.01); (iii) VO2 max and FT4 (rs=0.71; p<0.01); (iv) O2/HR max and FT4 (rs= 0.56; p<0.03). Multiple linear regression analysis (forward stepwise) with the inclusion of all studied hormones as independent variables showed that testosterone was the only factor to be significantly associated with VE max, AT, VO2 max, O2/HR max in athletes.
Conclusion: The present data suggest a significant role of testosterone in cardiorespiratory fitness in elite athletes.
- © 2011 ERS