Sex Differences in Physiological Stress Induced by a Long-Lasting Adventure Race: A Prospective Observational Analytical Study

Abstract

Background In order to provide additional information on the behaviour of biochemical parameters related to stress responses to a specific long-term competition, we aimed to compare the stressful effects of a long-lasting competition on physiological variables in men and women. Methods This is a prospective observational analytical study. Twenty-five professional athletes, 15 men and 10 women, travelled 460 km for 4 days in an international edition of the Ecomotion/Pro AR World. Results After the competition, we detected an increase in α-amylase and cortisol levels and a decrease in salivary immunoglobulin A (lgA) levels. The relative percentage changes in α-amylase, IgA and cortisol levels were significantly higher in women than in men, whereas women had lower relative percentage changes in glucose and lactate levels compared with men. There was a decrease in lymphocyte, eosinophil and monocyte counts, with relative percentage decreases in lymphocytes and monocytes being significantly higher in female athletes than in males. There were increases in the serum activities of total creatine kinase (CK), the creatine kinase myocardial isoform (CKMB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) at the end of the test, with significantly higher elevations of total CK, CKMB and LDH in men and ALT in women. Conclusion Long-lasting competition induced stress, muscle damage, anaemia and changes in the immune system. Women had more intense responses of cortisol and leukocytes.

Connections between Different Sports and Ergogenic Aids—Focusing on Salivary Cortisol and Amylase

“…Another study conducted on female and male athletes on the effects of 20 min high intensity interval training have observed a 1.5× higher amylase activity in males at rest, but similar cortisol levels, whereas post exercise there were no significant differences between the groups [ 21 ]. These observations are different from the ones noted by another group that used a 470 km journey (The Ecomotion/ProAdventure Race World) to assess stress responses, they have illustrated significant higher relative percentages of amylase and cortisol in women [ 22 ]. These results might be explained due to detrimental effects of a long-lasting competition on muscle, stress, and immune system.…”

Assessment of exercise-induced stress by automated measurement of salivary cortisol concentrations within the circadian rhythm in Japanese female long-distance runners

“…We focused on enrolling the elite female longdistance runners living in a standardized environment as much as possible under the same conditions in regular training without extreme stress in a non-race season. Because the response of cortisol to exercise is greater in women than in men [32], further investigations are needed on male athletes. Another limitation is that we compared the responses of salivary cortisol concentrations between exercises of the same type at different intensities in the early morning and between exercises of different types in the afternoon on 2 consecutive days.…”

Sex Differences in Endurance Running

“…Sorichter et al [155] have summarized the literature on the identification, usefulness and limits of indirect markers of ultrastructural muscle damage widely used in males and females. Aside from DOMS, the most reported indirect indicators include myoglobin (Mb) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) plasma levels as well as serum creatine kinase (CK) activity [156]. According to Goodman et al [157], the increased serum levels of CK and Mb after an endurance run might result from free radical-induced cell membrane damage and/or transiently increased permeability rather than from mechanical ultrastructural damage.…”