Cortisol, DHEA, and testosterone concentrations in saliva in response to an international powerlifting competition

The purpose of this study was to examine salivary cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone responses to the bench press in an international powerlifting competition and to determine whether these salivary hormone concentrations could be used to predict performance. Twenty-six elite...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Netherlands), 2010-11, Vol.13 (6), p.528-532
Main Authors: Le Panse, B., Vibarel-Rebot, N., Parage, G., Albrings, D., Amiot, V., De Ceaurriz, J., Collomp, K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Bench press
cortisol
Dehydroepiandrosterone - secretion
DHEA
Female
Humans
Hydrocortisone - secretion
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology
Life Sciences
Male
physical stress
Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology
Saliva - metabolism
sex differences
testosterone
Testosterone - secretion
Weight Lifting - physiology
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to examine salivary cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone responses to the bench press in an international powerlifting competition and to determine whether these salivary hormone concentrations could be used to predict performance. Twenty-six elite athletes (13 females and 13 males) provided saliva samples during the official weighing-in and after the last attempt at the bench press, as well as at baseline on a non-competition day. Performance index was determined with the Wilks formula, which adjusts powerlifting scores according to body mass. Salivary cortisol concentrations were significantly increased in all subjects after the bench press (p < 0.01), whereas DHEA concentrations were significantly increased in women (p < 0.01) but not in men after the bench press. No significant change in testosterone concentrations was observed during the experiment in either men or women, which resulted in a marked decrease in the testosterone/cortisol ratio. The performance index showed no significant correlation with any of the hormone responses to competition. In conclusion, despite the increase in stress adrenocortical hormone responses to an international powerlifting competition, these hormone concentrations alone are not predictors of bench press performance in elite powerlifting athletes.
ISSN:1025-3890
1607-8888
DOI:10.3109/10253891003743440