Effects of amount of training on the saliva concentrations of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone and on the dehydroepiandrosterone: cortisol concentration ratio in women over 16 weeks of training

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate in the saliva the influence in female athletes of handball or volleyball training on concentrations of cortisol [C], dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], and on the [DHEA]:[C] ratio over 16 weeks of training. Data were compared to those of sedentary women. Saliva samples were collected upon waking after an overnight fast during the 1st week (W1) of the training programme and in the 16th week (W16). The training programme increased the resting concentrations of saliva [DHEA] in all the sportswomen. In contrast, a decrease of [DHEA] was noted in the sedentary group (W16 < W1; P < 0.05). In none of the women did the [C] at rest change significantly during the study. Between W1 and W16, the [DHEA]:[C] ratio increased by more than 30% in all the sportswomen. In addition, the athletes with the highest performance levels and greatest amount of training had the lowest [DHEA]:[C] ratio. Negative linear relationships between the amount of training and the [DHEA]:[C] ratio were found both at W1 (r = -0.53 P < 0.001), and W16 (r = -0.73 P < 0.001), suggesting that the latter could be used as an indicator of the training status of sportswomen.

The effects of 20-m repeated sprint training on aerobic capacity in college volleyball players

“…Although the literature has shown that the VO 2max is a key component of physical fitness for a volleyball player [14,15,26,32,37,38,46], few studies have examined the effect of volleyball and physical conditioning training on the VO 2max [14,15,19,21,27,32]. However, most of this research has used conditioning programs that include both sprint and aerobic endurance training, to improve speed and aerobic fitness of volleyball players [8,19,27,39].…”

“…However, most of this research has used conditioning programs that include both sprint and aerobic endurance training, to improve speed and aerobic fitness of volleyball players [8,19,27,39]. In modern volleyball, the high frequency of matches during the competitive season limits the number of training sessions devoted to physical fitness development [21,29].…”

Effects of menstrual cycle, oral contraception, and training on exercise-induced changes in circulating DHEA-sulphate and testosterone in young women

“…However, further investigation is required in the field of female exercise physiology. The few available studies in this field are usually not well controlled, due to the confounding variables related to the menstrual cycle, the use of contraceptives, and the ecological nature of many studies (Baker et al 1982;Bonen and Keizer 1987;Filaire et al 1998). In women, the basal concentrations of testosterone and DHEA-s in plasma are influenced by hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle and the use of oral contraceptives (OC) (Abraham 1974;Coenen et al 1995Coenen et al , 1996Massafra et al 1999;Murphy et al 1990;Wiegratz et al 1995).…”

Sarcopenia: Pharmacology of Today and Tomorrow

“…Is it possible that the lack of effects findings is related to the different formulations and different levels of purity available on commercially available supplements? We do know that regular exercise elevates DHEA production in the body (Filaire et al, 1998;Copeland et al, 2002), but in one randomized controlled clinical trial, DHEA failed to show improvements in muscle lean mass and muscle strength in middle-aged men. Perhaps the best we can say for now is that the evidence is inconclusive with regard to the effect of DHEA on strength in the elderly (Baker et al, 2011), and as beautifully summarized in article by Tokish et al (2004): "The marketing of this supplement's effectiveness far exceeds its science."…”