Variations in urine excretion of steroid hormones after an acute session and after a 4-week programme of strength training

Abstract

Performing strength exercise, whether acutely or in a training programme, leads to alterations at the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes. One way to evaluate these changes is by analysis of the excretion of steroid hormones in the urine. The present study determined the variations in the urine profile of glucuroconjugated steroids after a single session of strength exercise and after a 4-week programme of strength training. The subjects were a group (n = 20) of non-sportsman male university students who worked out 3 days a week [Monday (M), Wednesday (W) and Friday (F)], performing the exercises at 70-75% of one repetition maximum strength (1-RM). Four urine samples were collected per subject: (A) before and (B) after a standard session prior to initiating the training programme, and (C) before and (D) after the same standard session at the end of the study, and they were assayed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The concentrations of the different hormones were determined relatively to the urine creatinine level (ng steroid/mg creatinine) to correct for diuresis. After the exercise sessions, both before and after the training programme, there was a fall in the urine excretion of androgens and estrogens, but no statistically significant changes in the excretion of tetrahydrocortisol (THF) and tetrahydrocortisone (THE). The anabolic/catabolic hormones ratio also decreased after the acute session, although only androstenodione + dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)/THE + THF ratio had a significant decrease (P < 0.05). After the training programme, there was a significant (P < 0.01) improvement in the strength of the muscle groups studied, and an increased urinary excretion of all the androgens with respect to the initial state of repose, with the difference being significant in the case of epitestosterone (Epit) (P < 0.05). The androsterone (A) + etiocholanolone (E)/THE + THF ratio increased significantly (P < 0.05) concerning the initial state. We therefore conclude that subjects suffer variations of the urine profile with regard to the steroid hormones before and after the acute strength sessions and after the training period. The alteration after the training programme seems to be due to the subjects' hypothalamic-hypophysis-testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes adaptations, which enable them to increase physical strength.

Impact of hormonal contraceptives on urinary steroid profile in relation to serum hormone changes and CYP17A1 polymorphism

“…The urinary steroid profile in females is more challenging to interpret since some of the metabolites occur naturally at very low concentrations near the detection limit. Moreover, the urinary androgen ABP metabolites in females appear to be more affected by exercise, stress, and circadian rhythm than in males; they also fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle . A small study ( n = 4) noted that hormonal contraceptives (HCs) may affect the (T/E) ratio .…”

Environmental footprint of pharmaceuticals: The significance of factors beyond direct excretion to sewers

“…Approximately 10% is systemically absorbed. Assuming that the remainder (90 mg) is washed eventually from the skin and assuming that the combined urinary excretion of free and conjugated endogenous testosterone from adult males ranges up to 0.3 mg/d (calculated from Al-Dujaili [62] and Timó n Andrada et al [63]), the daily use of testosterone gel could contribute a mass of testosterone equivalent to that excreted naturally from 300 (90/0.3) males.…”

Molecularly imprinted adsorbents for preconcentration and isolation of progesterone and testosterone by solid phase extraction combined with HPLC

“…The results of this study do not support the conclusion that urine specimens, demonstrating the incorporated secretion of hor- mones, show deviations in free hormone concentrations (the hormones are produced by several organs in the human body and their levels are determined by subjective variables). As noted by other authors, the resulting differences could be attributed to additional factors, such as the volume of collected urine, levels of physical activity and sympathetic nervous activity, as well as other dietary and nutritional factors affecting urinary excretion of hormones (Ooi et al 1995;van Anders and Watson 2007;Saad and Vongas 2009;Andrada et al 2007). …”