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Acute hormonal responses of a high impact physical exercise session in early postmenopausal women

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Abstract

The effect of a single bout of exercise on hormones affecting bone metabolism was studied in 25 early postmenopausal women with osteopenia. The complex training session was performed between 8:00 a.m. and 9:05 a.m. Serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), total testosterone, free testosterone, 17β-estradiol, cortisol, human growth hormone (hGH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were determined. Blood samples were obtained immediately before (baseline) and after exercise, as well as 2 h and 22 h post-exercise. DHEA-S increased by 10% immediately after exercise and remained increased 2 h later. Testosterone showed no increase immediately after exercise but fell by 21% 2 h post-exercise. Free testosterone was increased by almost 20% immediately after exercise and returned to baseline levels after 2 h. Two hours post-exercise a 20% increase in the estradiol level was measured. Cortisol decreased by 36% during exercise and a further 14% during the next 2 h, a loss higher than the normal diurnal decrease. hGH increased by 80% during exercise and fell 30% under baseline values after 2 h. Even though the assessment period was prolonged to 22 h no significant change could be demonstrated for IGF-I. Serum IGFBP-3 showed a biphasic increase. During the exercise session IGFBP-3 increased by 35%, returned to baseline values 2 h post-exercise and increased again by 40% 22 h post-exercise. In summary, this study showed that a single bout of exercise typically used in osteoporosis prevention programs could have an influence on hormones affecting bone metabolism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Physics, University of Erlangen, Krankenhausstrasse 12, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    W. Kemmler, K. Engelke, R. Pintag & W. Kalender

  2. Department of Gynecology, University of Erlangen, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    L. Wildt

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Erlangen, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    M. Pavel

  4. Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Erlangen, 91056, Erlangen, Germany

    B. Bracher & J. Weineck

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  1. W. Kemmler
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Correspondence to W. Kemmler.

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Kemmler, W., Wildt, L., Engelke, K. et al. Acute hormonal responses of a high impact physical exercise session in early postmenopausal women. Eur J Appl Physiol 90, 199–209 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0874-7

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