Training-induced impairment of endothelial function in track and field female athletes

Abstract

Professional athletes are often exposed to high training loads that may lead to overfatigue, overreaching and overtraining that might have a detrimental effects on vascular health. We determined the effects of high training stress on endothelial function assessed by the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and markers of glycocalyx shedding. Vascular examination as well as broad biochemical, hormonal and cardiometabolic evaluation of sprint and middle-distance female runners were performed after 2 months of preparatory training period and compared to age-matched control group of women. Female athletes presented with significantly reduced FMD (p < 0.01) and higher basal serum concentrations of hyaluronan (HA) and syndecan-1 (SDC-1) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively), that was accompanied by significantly lower basal serum testosterone (T) and free testosterone (fT) concentrations (p < 0.05) and higher cortisol (C) concentration (p < 0.05). It resulted in significantly lower T/C and fT/C ratios in athletes when compared to controls (p < 0.01). Moreover, fT/C ratio were significantly positively correlated to FMD and negatively to HA concentrations in all studied women. Accordingly, the training load was significantly negatively correlated with T/C, fT/C and FMD and positively with the concentrations of HA and SDC-1. We concluded that young female track and field athletes subjected to physical training developed impairment of endothelial function that was associated with anabolic-catabolic hormone balance disturbances. Given that training-induced impairment of endothelial function may have a detrimental effects on vascular health, endothelial status should be regularly monitored in the time-course of training process to minimalize vascular health-risk in athletes.

Training and Competition Loads in Women’s Rugby Sevens Athletes: Are There Implications for Cardiovascular Health?

“…39 Additionally, the basal level of matrix metalloproteinase 1 increased in response to resistance training in female track-andfield athletes, an enzyme responsible for glycocalyx degradation and endothelial dysfunction. 15 It has previously been demonstrated that deloading periods play an important role in reducing arterial stiffening, as seen in healthy male and female adults over 16 weeks compared to controls who continued to increase the load during deloading weeks. 40 Thus, poor resistance training regimens could be detrimental to vascular health in women's rugby sevens athletes.…”

“…Hormonal responses have been previously examined in teamsport athletes, and recent evidence suggests these responses could impair endothelial function. 15 Hormonal markers, like testosterone, are used to determine excessive training loads in athletes by comparing them to cortisol levels. 49 This is commonly referred to as the anabolic-catabolic hormone ratio and has a strong correlation with FMD, an index of endothelial dysfunction.…”

“…49 This is commonly referred to as the anabolic-catabolic hormone ratio and has a strong correlation with FMD, an index of endothelial dysfunction. 15 Therefore, a higher ratio (elevated testosterone and lower cortisol levels) is ideal for cardiovascular health. Single bouts of intense exercise have been shown to decrease FMD, though this is temporary and recovers to normal levels within 24-hour postexercise.…”

“…51 A study involving female track-and-field athletes reported impaired endothelial function after 2 months of preparatory training caused by a decrease in the anabolic-catabolic hormonal ratio. 15 Evidence suggests that low testosterone levels are associated with impaired endothelial function and arterial stiffness in men. 52 However, the effect of hormonal changes on endothelial dysfunction in women remains unclear.…”

“…Intense levels of acute and chronic exercise may have damaging effects on the heart and blood vessels, including adverse cardiovascular remodeling, endothelial dysfunction, cardiac fatigue, atrial fibrillation, and accelerated atherosclerosis formation. 7,15 The number of hours completed during a week by athletes in women's rugby sevens varies between nationalities. Spanish players completed an average of 16 hours per week of rugby, strength, and conditioning training and competitive matches.…”