BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SALIVARY HORMONES IN MALE HALF-MARATHON PERFORMANCE

Authors

  • Branimir B. Radosavljević Institute of Chemistry in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade
  • Miloš P. Žarković Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade and Clinic of Endocrinology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade
  • Svetlana D. Ignjatović Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade and Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade
  • Marijana M. Dijak Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade
  • Neda Lj. Milinković Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade and Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade

Abstract

Physical effort is known to alter the blood levels of many hormones, but there are only a few studies about the biological changes of salivary hormones. The aim of this work was to determine whether salivary testosterone and salivary cortisol levels, measured two weeks before a half-marathon race, relate to running performance in male recreational athletes. A group of eleven male recreational athletes preparing for a half-marathon was included in the study. Saliva for testosterone and cortisol determinations was collected before and immediately after a 15-km training run, two weeks before the half-marathon. Individual official half-marathon times, expressed in hours, were used as a measure of performance. Mean testosterone concentrations were 1.07±0.33 nmol/l before the run and 0.88±0.35 nmol/l after the run (p<0.05). Mean cortisol concentrations were 12.28±8.46 nmol/l before the run and 38.08±19.63 nmol/l after the run (p<0.05). The pre-run salivary testosterone levels marginally correlated with the corresponding half-marathon running times (p=0.068, 95% bootstrap CI for slope -0.40 to -0.06). However, post-run salivary testosterone levels significantly correlated with the corresponding half-marathon running times (p=0.011, 95% bootstrap CI for slope -0.41 to -0.16), even considering correlations with the runners’ age. Salivary cortisol levels, either pre- or post-run, did not correlate with the corresponding half-marathon running times. The results of this study suggest that post-exercise salivary testosterone levels could have the potential to predict performance in endurance running, at least in recreational athletes.

 

Key words: salivary hormones; testosterone; recreational athlete; running; age

 

Received: September 4, 2015; Revised: September 18, 2015; Accepted: September 18, 2015; Published online: May 20, 2016

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Vingren JL, Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA, Anderson JM, Volek JS, Maresh CM. Testosterone physiology in resistance exercise and training: the up-stream regulatory elements. Sports Med. 2010;40(12):1037-53.

Crewther BT, Cook C, Cardinale M, Weatherby RP, Lowe T. Two emerging concepts for elite athletes: the short-term effects of testosterone and cortisol on the neuromuscular system and the dose-response training role of these endogenous hormones. Sports Med. 2011;41(2):103-23.

Gatti R, De Palo EF. An update: salivary hormones and physical exercise. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011;21(2):157-69.

Lombardi G, Lanteri P, Graziani R, Colombini A, Banfi G, Corsetti R. Bone and energy metabolism parameters in professional cyclists during the Giro d'Italia 3-weeks stage race. PloS One. 2012;7(7):e42077.

Bobbert T, Brechtel L, Mai K, Otto B, Maser-Gluth, Pfeiffer AF, Spranger J, Diederich S. Adaptation of the hypothalamic-pituitary hormones during intensive endurance training. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2005;63(5):530-6.

Brownlee KK, Moore AW, Hackney AC. Relationship between circulating cortisol and testosterone: influence of physical exercise. J Sports Sci Med. 2005;4(1):76-83.

Vuorimaa T, Ahotupa M, Häkkinen K, Vasankari T. Different hormonal response to continuous and intermittent exercise in middle-distance and marathon runners. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2008;18(5):565-72.

Crewther BT, Lowe T, Weatherby RP, Gill N, Keogh J. Neuromuscular performance of elite rugby union players and relationships with salivary hormones. J Strength Cond Res. 2009;23(7):2046-53.

Nunes JA, Crewther BT, Viveiros L, Rose D, Aoki MS. Effects of resistance training periodization on performance and salivary immune-endocrine responses of elite female basketball players. J Sports Med Physical Fitness. 2011;51(4):676-82.

Passelergue PA, Lac G. Salivary hormonal responses and performance changes during 15 weeks of mixed aerobic and weight training in elite junior wrestlers. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(11):3049-58.

Balthazar CH, Garcia MC, Spadari-Bratfisch RC. Salivary concentrations of cortisol and testosterone and prediction of performance in a professional triathlon competition. Stress. 2012;15(5):495-502.

Crewther BT, Christian C. Relationships between salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations and training performance in Olympic weightlifters. J Sports Med Physical Fitness. 2010;50(3):371-5.

Žarković M, Stefanova E, Ćirić J, Penezić Z, Kostić V, Šumarac-Dumanović M, Macut D, Ivović MS, Gligorović PV. Prolonged psychological stress suppresses cortisol secretion. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2003;59(6):811-6.

Cojocary C, Turcanu A, Mihaescu T, Ciobica A, Timofte D, Alexinschi O, Anton E, Cojocaru E. A biological perspective for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by testosterone. Arch Biol Sci. 2015;67(1):257-9.

Auyeung TW, Lee JS, Kwok T, Leung J, Ohlsson C, Vandenput L, Leung PC, Woo J. Testosterone but not estradiol level is positively related to muscle strength and physical performance independent of muscle mass: a cross-sectional study in 1489 older men. Eur J Endocrinol. 2011;164(5):811-7.

Ellison PT, Bribiescas RG, Bentley GR, Campbell BC, Lipson SF, Panter-Brick C, Hill K. Population variation in age-related decline in male salivary testosterone. Hum Reproduct (Oxford, England). 2002;17(2):3251-3.

de Weerth C, Jansen J, Vos MH, Maitimu I, Lentjes EG. A new device for collecting saliva for cortisol determination. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007;32(8-10):1144-8.

Hayes LD, Grace FM, Sculthorpe N, Herbert P, Ratcliffe JWT, Kilduff LP, Baker JS. The effects of a formal exercise training programme on salivary hormone concentrations and body composition in previously sedentary aging men. Springerplus. 2013;2(1):18.

Mehta PH, Josephs RA. Testosterone change after losing predicts the decision to compete again. Horm Behav. 2006;50(5):684-92.

Vaamonde D, Da Silva ME., Poblador MS, LanchoJL. Reproductive profile of physically active men after exhaustive endurance exercise. Int J Sports Med. 2006;(27):680-9.

Crewther BT, Cook Cj, Caviglio CM, Kilduff LP, Drawer S. Baseline strength can influence the ability of salivary free testosterone to predict squat and sprinting performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(1):261-8.

Guo W, Wong S, Li M, Liang W, Liesa M, Serra C, Jasuja R, Bartke A, Kirkland JL, Shirihai O, Bhasin S. Testosterone plus low-intensity physical training in late life improves functional performance, skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitochondrial quality control in male mice. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e51180.

Pitteloud N, Mootha VK, Dwyer AA, Hardin M, Lee H, Eriksson KF, Tripathy D, Yialamas M, Groop L, Elahi D, Hayes FJ. Relationship between testosterone levels, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial function in men. Diabetes Care. 2005;28(7):1636-42.

Sato K, Iemitsu M, Aizaw K, Ajisaka R. Testosterone and DHEA activate the glucose metabolism-related signaling pathway in skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2008;294(5):E961-8.

Bloomer RJ, Sforzo GA, Keller BA. Effects of meal form and composition on plasma testosterone, cortisol, and insulin following resistance exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2000;10(4):415-24.

Gleason ED, Fuxjager MJ, Oyegbile TO, Marler CA. Testosterone release and social context: when it occurs and why. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2009;30(4):460-9.

Storer TW, Magliano L, Woodhouse L, Lee ML, Dzekov C, Dzekov J, Casaburi R, Bhasin S. Testosterone dose-dependently increases maximal voluntary strength and leg power, but does not affect fatigability or specific tension. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88(4):1478-85.

Downloads

Published

2016-09-02

How to Cite

1.
Radosavljević BB, Žarković MP, Ignjatović SD, Dijak MM, Milinković NL. BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SALIVARY HORMONES IN MALE HALF-MARATHON PERFORMANCE. Arch Biol Sci [Internet]. 2016Sep.2 [cited 2024Mar.28];68(3):495-500. Available from: https://www.serbiosoc.org.rs/arch/index.php/abs/article/view/964

Issue

Section

Articles