Testosterone Is Significantly Reduced in Endurance Athletes without Impact on Bone Mineral Density
Abstract
Aims: To compare the basal plasma reproductive hormonal profile in three groups of athletes involved in different training programs, and to define the relationship between androgen level and bone mineral density (BMD) in male athletes. Methods: Basal serum total testosterone (TT), free androgen index (FAI), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol, cortisol to TT ratio, luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen and BMD were evaluated in cyclists (CY; n = 11), triathletes (TR; n = 14) and swimmers (SW; n = 13) and compared with less active controls (n = 10). Results: TT and FAI levels were lower (p < 0.05) in CY and TR, whereas the ratio of cortisol to TT was increased in CY only (p < 0.05). No alteration in serum LH, SHBG, estrogen or cortisol concentration was observed. BMD was higher in the proximal femur in TR (p < 0.05). No BMD or hormonal differences were found in SW. Conclusion: Only the endurance training of CY and TR induced androgen deficiency without apparent alteration of BMD.
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Endurance athletes may have lower concentrations of free and total testosterone than non-athletes.
“Additionally, endurance athletes may have lower concentrations of free and total testosterone than non-athletes [24, 25].”
From Association of cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity with sex steroid hormone levels in US men (2009) · cites this paper as [24]
Cites
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“The mechanism of action of androgen in bone is not well understood, but the detection of human androgen receptor in various bone cells, including osteoblasts [”
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Heydenreich, J., Kayser, B., Schutz, Y., & Melzer, K. (2017) · Sports Medicine - Open · doi:10.1186/s40798-017-0076-1 · Cited by 177 · see citing works
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Þegar orkuna skortir–áhrif hlutfallslegs orkuskorts í íþróttum (RED-s) á heilsu og árangur
Faculty of Health promotion, S. A. L. S., Varðardóttir, B., Guðmundsdóttir, S. L., Faculty of Health promotion, S. A. L. S., Ólafsdóttir, A. S., & Faculty of Health promotion, S. A. L. S. (2020) · Læknablaðið · doi:10.17992/lbl.2020.09.596 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
- Authors
- Maïmoun, L., Lumbroso, S., Manetta, J., Paris, F., Leroux, J. L., & Sultan, C.
- Affiliations
- Hôpital Lapeyronie (FR)
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nîmes (FR)
- Venue
- Hormone Research in Paediatrics
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2003
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 285-292
- ISSN
- 1663-2818 (ISSN-L)
- 1663-2826
- OpenAlex
- W2066808800
- Cited by
- 76
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 1.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormone Research in Paediatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- testosterone, endurance athletes, bone mineral density, androgen deficiency, free androgen index, sex hormone-binding globulin, cortisol, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, cyclists, triathletes, swimmers, male athletes, reproductive hormones
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Androgens, Bicycling, Femur, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Physical Endurance, Running, Sports, Swimming, Testosterone, Bone Density
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