Basal reproductive hormonal profiles are altered in endurance trained men

摘要

Objective. The purpose was to examine the basal reproductive hormonal profiles in age-matched groups of endurance trained (ET) and sedentary (SED) men under controlled conditions. Experimental design. Resting basal blood samples were obtained from groups of ET and SED men after a 24-hr control period. Blood specimens were analyzed for testosterone (T), free-testosterone (fT), sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), cortisol, and prolactin. The design of the study was retrospective and cross-sectional in nature. Setting. Laboratory setting at the University of North Carolina, North Carolina USA. Participants. ET men (n=53) who had been involved with chronic endurance exercise training for ≥ 5 years. SED men (n=35) were selected of comparable ages and the fact that they had done no formal exercise training. Results. Results indicated that the basal T and fT of the ET men were significantly (p < 0.01) lower than that of the SED men. The levels of these hormones in the ET men where in the normal clinical range, but represented only 55% to 85% of those seen in the SED men. For SHBG, LH, cortisol, and prolactin, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between the ET and SED men. Conclusions. ET men have lowered basal T and fT levels and this suppression may be related to an alteration in the hypo-thalamic-pituitary-testicular regulatory axis since the LH of the ET was not elevated. Whether these hormonal changes have any significant beneficial (i.e., protective cardiovascular) or negative (i.e., decrease anabolic-androgenic processes) physiologic consequences remains to be determined.