Growth hormone, prolactin and cortisol response to exercise in patients with depression
Abstract
Background A blunted growth hormone and prolactin response to pharmacological stress test have previously been found in depressed patients, as well as an increased cortisol response to psychosocial stress. This study investigated these hormones in response to acute exercise using an incremental bicycle test.Method A cross-sectional comparison of cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin in depressed (n=137) and healthy (n=44) subjects during rest and in response to an incremental bicycle test. Secondly, we tested the depressed patients again after a 4-month randomized naturalistic exercise intervention.Results Resting plasma levels of growth hormone (GH), cortisol, or prolactin (PRL) did not differ between depressed and healthy subjects (all p-values>.12). In response to an incremental bicycle test the GH (p=.02) and cortisol (p=.05) response in depressed was different compared to healthy controls. The effect of acute exercise stress on PRL (p=.56) did not differ between depressed and healthy subjects. Apart from a decrease in GH response in the strength-training group (p=.03) the pragmatic exercise intervention did not affect resting hormonal levels, or the response to acute exercise.Conclusions Patients with mild to moderate depression had a different growth hormone and cortisol response to acute exercise stress compared to healthy controls. Strength training was able to reduce the growth hormone response to acute exercise stress in this patient population. Studies with more rigorous inclusion criteria and higher exercise frequencies are needed to evaluate and confirm the possible effect of exercise in depressed subjects.
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Different types of exercise were used, including aerobic exercise, jogging training, strength training, relaxation exercise, Buddhism walking meditation, traditional walking, and stretching.
“Different types of exercise were used, including aerobic exercise, 25,29,30 Records jogging training, 26 strength training, 29 relaxation exercise, 29 Buddhism walking meditation, 37 traditional walking 39 and stretching.25”
From Can physical exercise modulate cortisol level in subjects with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [29]
Cortisol measurement was made in saliva (n=1), urine (n=1), and plasma (n=3).
“Cortisol measurement was made in the saliva (n = 1), 25 urine (n = 1), 26 and plasma (n = 3) 29,30,39 of the participants, at different times of the day.”
From Can physical exercise modulate cortisol level in subjects with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [29]
Three different types of weekly frequencies were used: two, three and five times per week.
“For example, three different types of weekly frequencies were used: two, 29 three 25 and five times per week.26”
From Can physical exercise modulate cortisol level in subjects with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [29]
Visual analysis of the funnel plot showed asymmetry of two articles (three trials) within the studies.
“Visual analysis of the funnel plot showed asymmetry of two articles 26,29 (three trials) within the studies,”
From Can physical exercise modulate cortisol level in subjects with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [29]
Two studies evaluated cortisol in basal condition, one observed cortisol awakening response, one assessed cortisol levels after 8 hours of overnight fasting, and one measured 24 hours of excretions.
“Two of them evaluated cortisol in basal condition, 29,30 one article observed cortisol awakening response, 25 another study assessed cortisol levels after 8 hours of overnight fasting 39 and the last one measured 24 hours of excretions.26”
From Can physical exercise modulate cortisol level in subjects with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [29]
Two studies investigated an active control group (stretching and relaxation), while three studies investigated a non-active control group.
“For example, two studies 25,29 investigated an active control group (stretching and relaxation, respectively), while three studies 26,30,39 investigated a non-active control group.”
From Can physical exercise modulate cortisol level in subjects with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [29]
One study did not present the association between reduced cortisol and improved depressive symptoms, and another found non-significant results.
“However, one study did not present the association between reduced cortisol and improved depressive symptoms, 30 and another found non-significant results.29”
From Can physical exercise modulate cortisol level in subjects with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [29]
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- Authors
- Krogh, J., Nordentoft, M., Mohammad-Nezhad, M., & Westrin, Å.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- University of Mazandaran (IR)
- Skåne University Hospital (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Krogh, Jesper
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-09
- Volume
- 125
- Issue
- 1-3
- Pages
- 189-197
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1964847089
- Cited by
- 56
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 1.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Center for Theoretical Sciences
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- depression, growth hormone, prolactin, cortisol, acute exercise, exercise stress response, resistance training, exercise intervention, neuroendocrine response
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Denmark, Major Depressive Disorder, Exercise Test, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Middle Aged, Oxygen, Prolactin, Pulse, Relaxation Therapy, Exercise, Single-Blind Method, Human Growth Hormone, Resistance Training
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