ORIGINAL ARTICLES  EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MEDICINE 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2013 June;53(3):255-60

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Correlations between serum hormones, strength and endurance in healthy elderly South-American men

Cadore E. L., Lhullier F. L. R., Pinto R. S., Alberton C. L., Pinto S. S., Tartaruga M. P., Kruel L. F. M. ✉

Exercise Research Laboratory Physical Education School Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre, Brazil

Aim: Declines in muscular strength resulting from reduced serum anabolic hormones and neural activity may influence the reduction in aerobic capacity in older men. However, there has been little investigation into the relationship between steroid hormones and muscular strength, as well as endurance capacity in elderly subjects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between serum steroid hormones, strength and aerobic performance in older men.
Methods: Twenty-eight aged men (65±4 years) were evaluated in dynamic strength (one repetition maximum test), isometric strength (maximal voluntary contraction) and rate of force development. Peak oxygen uptake and maximal workload were determined during a ramp protocol on a cycle ergometer. In addition, blood samples were taken to determine basal cortisol, total and free testosterone.
Results: No correlations were found between steroid hormonal concentrations and the performance parameters investigated.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that single measurements of steroids hormones concentrations are not related to the strength and endurance capacity of healthy South-American elderly men.