Effect of Hydration State on Testosterone and Cortisol Responses to Training-Intensity Exercise in Collegiate Runners

C. M. Maresh; M. J. Whittlesey; L. E. Armstrong; L. M. Yamamoto; D. A. Judelson; K. E. Fish; D. J. Casa; S. A. Kavouras; V. D. Castracane

doi:10.1055/s-2005-872932

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2006; 27(10): 765-770
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-872932

Physiology & Biochemistry

Effect of Hydration State on Testosterone and Cortisol Responses to Training-Intensity Exercise in Collegiate Runners

C. M. Maresh¹ ^, ² ^, ³ , M. J. Whittlesey¹ , L. E. Armstrong¹ ^, ² ^, ³ , L. M. Yamamoto¹ , D. A. Judelson¹ , K. E. Fish¹ , D. J. Casa¹ , S. A. Kavouras¹ , V. D. Castracane⁴

¹Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
²Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
³Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
⁴Diagnostic Systems Laboratories, Webster, Texas, USA

Abstract

Exercise intensity powerfully influences testosterone, cortisol, and testosterone : cortisol ratio (T : C) responses to endurance exercise. Hydration state may also modulate these hormones, and therefore may alter the anabolic/catabolic balance in response to endurance exercise and training. This study examined the effect of running intensity on testosterone, cortisol, and T : C when exercise was initiated in a hypohydrated state. Nine male collegiate runners (age = 20 ± 0 y, height = 178 ± 2 cm, mass = 67.0 ± 1.8 kg, body fat % = 9.8 ± 0.7 %, V·O_2max = 65.7 ± 1.1 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1) completed four 10-min treadmill runs differing in pre-exercise hydration status (euhydrated, or hypohydrated by 5 % of body mass) and exercise intensity (70 % or 85 % V·O_2max). Body mass, urine osmolality, and urine-specific gravity documented fluid balance; blood samples drawn pre-, immediately post-, and 20 min post-exercise were analyzed for testosterone, cortisol, and T : C. Except for heart rate measured during the 70 % V·O_2max trials, heart rate, V·O₂, and plasma lactate were similar between euhydrated and hypohydrated conditions for a given intensity, suggesting hypohydration did not measurably increase the physiological stress of the exercise bouts. Furthermore, hydration state had no measurable effect on testosterone concentrations before, during, or after exercise at either intensity. Regardless of exercise intensity, cortisol concentrations were greater during hypohydration than euhydration pre-exercise and 20 min post-exercise. Additionally, T : C was significantly lower 20 min post-exercise at 70 % V·O_2max when subjects were initially hypohydrated (T : C = 0.055) versus euhydrated (T : C = 0.072). These findings suggest that depending on exercise intensity, T : C may be altered by hydration state, therefore influencing the balance between anabolism and catabolism in response to running exercise performed at typical training intensities.

Key words

Exercise duration - exercise intensity - fluid balance - hormones - hypohydration

Full Text

References

1 Adlercreutz H, Härkönen M, Kuoppasalmi K, Näveri H, Huhtaniemi I, Tikkanen H, Remes K. Effect of training on plasma anabolic and catabolic steroid hormones and their response during physical exercise. Int J Sports Med. 1986; 7 27-28
2 Armstrong L E, Costill D L, Fink W J. Influence of diuretic-induced dehydration on competitive running performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1985; 17 456-461
3 Armstrong L E, Maresh C M, Castellani J W, Bergeron M F, Kenefick R W, LaGasse K E, Riebe D. Urinary indices of hydration status. Int J Sport Nutr. 1994; 4 265-279
4 Buono M J, Wall A J. Effect of hypohydration on core temperature during exercise in temperate and hot environments. Pflugers Arch. 2000; 440 476-480
5 Dengel D R, Weyand P G, Black D M, Cureton K J. Effect of varying levels of hypohydration on responses during submaximal cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992; 24 1096-1101
6 Dill D B, Costill D L. Calculation of percentage changes in volumes of blood, plasma, and red cells in dehydration. J Appl Physiol. 1974; 37 247-248
7 Duclos M, Corcuff J B, Rashedi M, Fougere V, Manier G. Does functional alteration of the gonadotropic axis occur in endurance trained athletes during and after exercise? A preliminary study. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996; 73 427-433
8 Farrell P A, Garthwaite T L, Gustafson A B. Plasma adrenocorticotropin and cortisol responses to submaximal and exhaustive exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1983; 55 1441-1444
9 Few J D. The effect of exercise on the secretion and metabolism of cortisol. J Endocrinol. 1971; 51 x-xi
10 Francesconi R P, Sawka M N, Pandolf K B. Hypohydration and acclimation: effects on hormone responses to exercise/heat stress. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1984; 55 365-369
11 Francesconi R P, Sawka M N, Pandolf K B, Hubbard R W, Young A J, Muza S. Plasma hormonal responses at graded hypohydration levels during exercise-heat stress. J Appl Physiol. 1985; 59 1855-1860
12 Greenleaf J E, Sargent F. Voluntary dehydration in man. J Appl Physiol. 1965; 20 719-724
13 Gulledge T P, Hackney A C. Reproducibility of low resting testosterone concentrations in endurance trained men. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996; 73 582-583
14 Hackney A C, Fahrner C L, Gulledge T P. Basal reproductive hormonal profiles are altered in endurance trained men. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1998; 38 138-141
15 Hackney A C, Fahrner C L, Stupnicki R. Reproductive hormonal responses to maximal exercise in endurance-trained men with low resting testosterone levels. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 1997; 105 291-295
16 Hackney A C, Sinning W E, Bruot B C. Reproductive hormonal profiles of endurance-trained and untrained males. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1988; 20 60-65
17 Hoffman J R, Falk B, Radom-Isaac S, Weinstein Y, Magazanik A, Wang Y, Yarom Y. The effect of environmental temperature on testosterone and cortisol responses to high intensity, intermittent exercise in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1997; 75 83-87
18 Hoffman J R, Maresh C M, Armstrong L E, Gabaree C L, Bergeron M F, Kenefick R W, Castellani J W, Ahlquist L E, Ward A. Effects of hydration state on plasma testosterone, cortisol and catecholamine concentrations before and during mild exercise at elevated temperature. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1994; 69 294-300
19 Hubbard R W, Sandick B L, Matthew W T, Francesconi R P, Sampson J B, Durkot M J, Maller O, Engell D B. Voluntary dehydration and alliesthesia for water. J Appl Physiol. 1984; 57 868-873
20 Jurimae J, Jurimae T, Purge P. Plasma testosterone and cortisol responses to prolonged sculling in male competitive rowers. J Sports Sci. 2001; 19 893-898
21 Kenefick R W, Maresh C M, Armstrong L E, Castellani J W, Whittlesey M J, Hoffman J R, Bergeron M F. Plasma testosterone and cortisol responses to training-intensity exercise in mild and hot environments. Int J Sports Med. 1998; 19 177-181
22 Leppaluoto J, Huttunen P, Hirvonen J, Vaananen A, Tuominen M, Vuori J. Endocrine effects of repeated sauna bathing. Acta Physiol Scand. 1986; 128 467-470
23 Lutoslawska G, Obminski Z, Krogulski A, Sendecki W. Plasma cortisol and testosterone following 19-km and 42-km kayak races. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1991; 31 538-542
24 Maresh C M, Cook M R, Cohen H D, Graham C, Gunn W S. Exercise testing in the evaluation of human responses to powerline frequency fields. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1988; 59 1139-1145
25 Maresh C M, Gabaree-Boulant C L, Armstrong L E, Judelson D A, Hoffman J R, Castellani J W, Kenefick R W, Bergeron M F, Casa D J. Effect of hydration status on thirst, drinking, and related hormonal responses during low-intensity exercise in the heat. J Appl Physiol. 2004; 97 39-44
26 Maughan R J. Impact of mild dehydration on wellness and on exercise performance. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003; 57 S19-S23
27 Montain S J, Smith S A, Mattot R P, Zientara G P, Jolesz F A, Sawka M N. Hypohydration effects on skeletal muscle performance and metabolism: a ³¹P‐MRS study. J Appl Physiol. 1998; 84 1889-1894
28 Roy B D, Green H J, Burnett M. Prolonged exercise following diuretic-induced hypohydration effects on fluid and electrolyte hormones. Horm Metab Res. 2001; 33 540-547
29 Roy B D, Green H J, Grant S M, Tarnopolsky M A. Acute plasma volume expansion in the untrained alters the hormonal response to prolonged moderate-intensity exercise. Horm Metab Res. 2001; 33 238-245
30 Sutton J R. Hormonal and metabolic responses to exercise in subjects of high and low work capacities. Med Sci Sports. 1978; 10 1-6
31 Tremblay M S, Copeland J L, Van Helder W. Effect of training status and exercise mode on endogenous steroid hormones in men. J Appl Physiol. 2004; 96 531-539
32 Wilkerson J E, Horvath S M, Gutin B. Plasma testosterone during treadmill exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1980; 49 249-253
33 Young D S. Implementation of SI units for clinical laboratory data. Style specifications and conversion tables. Ann Intern Med. 1987; 106 114-129

C. M. Maresh

Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut

2095 Hillside Rd., U-1110

Storrs, Connecticut 06269

USA

Phone: + 8604865322

Fax: + 86 04 86 11 23

Email: carl.maresh@uconn.edu