Testosterone and Cortisol Responses to HIIT and Continuous Aerobic Exercise in Active Young Men

Cristian Cofré-Bolados, Patricia Reuquen-López, Tomas Herrera-Valenzuela, Pedro Orihuela-Diaz, Antonio Garcia-Hermoso and Anthony C. Hackney
Additional contact information
Cristian Cofré-Bolados: Laboratory of Sciences of Physical Activity, Sport and Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
Patricia Reuquen-López: Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
Tomas Herrera-Valenzuela: Laboratory of Sciences of Physical Activity, Sport and Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
Pedro Orihuela-Diaz: Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
Antonio Garcia-Hermoso: Laboratory of Sciences of Physical Activity, Sport and Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
Anthony C. Hackney: Department of Exercise & Sport Science, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 21, 1-8

Abstract: It is well known that physical exercise modifies plasma levels of testosterone and cortisol. However, the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the plasma hormone levels is controversial. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of HIIT exercise or submaximal continuous aerobic exercise on circulating testosterone and cortisol levels in active male collegiate students. Methods: Thirteen moderately-active young adult males (20.2 (SD 2.1) years old) completed a HIIT (20 min of 15 s intervals of running at 110% of maximum oxygen consumption interspersed with 15 s of active rest at 40% of maximum oxygen consumption) and a continuous aerobic exercise (AEE) 20 min at 70–75% of maximum oxygen consumption. The mean total workload of both protocols was the same for each exercise session. Blood samples were collected pre-session (rest), immediately after the session (0 h), and 12 h post-session (12 h). Results: Both exercise protocols, similarly increased plasma levels of free testosterone immediately post-exertion ( p < 0.05 AEE and p < 0.01 HIIT). No differences were observed between the conditions in the concentration of testosterone at 12 h. Cortisol level and Testosterone/Cortisol (T/C) ratio remained constant for all measurements, regardless of the type of exercise performed. Conclusion: The testosterone concentrations rose significantly post intervention in both HIIT and AEE condition, but 12 h post intervention there was no difference between conditions, decreasing to baseline (pre-intervention). The T/C ratio decreased significantly (below baseline) only in the HIIT condition 12 h post intervention.

Keywords: anabolic hormone; catabolic hormone; high intensity interval; steady-state aerobic exercise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/21/6069/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/21/6069/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:21:p:6069-:d:282357

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().