Aldosterone Levels and Cardiac Hypertrophy in Professional Cyclists

Abstract

Aldosterone has been associated with the development of cardiac hypertrophy and a correlation has been found between levels of aldosterone and the degree of cardiac hypertrophy in hypertensive patients. Our study aimed to test the relation between physiologic cardiac hypertrophy and serum aldosterone in a group of highly trained cyclists. Determination of the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was performed in a group of 40 professional cyclists by using Devereux's formula with correction for body surface area. After an overnight fast, blood samples were collected and serum aldosterone levels were measured using RIA. LVMI and serum aldosterone were intercorrelated using linear regression analysis. Twenty-three of the 40 cyclists (58%) presented an LVMI > 130 g.m-1 and the other 17 subjects (42%) presented an LVMI < 130 g.m-1. Serum aldosterone levels did not correlate with LVMI in either of the groups (LVMI > 130 g.m-1, r = -0.089; LVMI < 130 g.m-1, r = 0.146). The lack of correlation of this hypertrophy with serum aldosterone levels suggests that physiologic hypertrophy of the athlete's heart could be caused by a different stimulus to that seen in pathologic hypertrophy of hypertensives.

Metabolic and Neuromuscular Adaptations to Endurance Training in Professional Cyclists. A Longitudinal Study.

“…In addition, despite the long duration of cycling events such as 3-week stage races, the relative contribution of intense exercise is surprisingly high during the more physically taxing events (mountain passes, time trials, sprints, "breakaways" etc.) [1].Several investigators have analyzed a number of physiological variables in professional cyclists, both in laboratory [2][3][4][5][6][7] and field settings [1,[8][9][10]. However, no prospective, long-term investigation has established the specific physiological adaptations which occur in professional cyclists as a response to training and competition during a typical sports season (generally including different periods in terms of training volume and/or intensity; i.e., precompetition or training, competition, and postcompetition or "active" rest periods).…”