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. 2022 Jun 24;11(7):961.
doi: 10.3390/biology11070961.

Effects of Dominance and Sprint Interval Exercise on Testosterone and Cortisol Levels in Strength-, Endurance-, and Non-Training Men

Grzegorz Zurek  1 , Natalia Danek  2 , Alina Żurek  3 , Judyta Nowak-Kornicka  4 , Agnieszka Żelaźniewicz  4 , Sylwester Orzechowski  3 , Tadeusz Stefaniak  5 , Magdalena Nawrat  3 , Marta Kowal  3
Affiliations

Effects of Dominance and Sprint Interval Exercise on Testosterone and Cortisol Levels in Strength-, Endurance-, and Non-Training Men

Grzegorz Zurek et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the response of testosterone and cortisol to sprint interval exercises (SIEs) and to determine the role of dominance. The experiment was conducted in a group of 96 men, divided into endurance-training, strength-training, and non-training groups. Participants performed SIEs consisting of 5 × 10-s all-out bouts with a 50-s active recovery. Using the passive drool method, testosterone and cortisol concentrations were measured in saliva samples at rest at 10 min pre and 12 min post exercise. Participants’ heart rate (HR) was measured during the whole exercise. Dominance was assessed by the participants before the study; the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured immediately after each bout. The study showed that those who trained in endurance and strength sports had significantly lower mean HRs after five acute 10-s interval bouts than those in the non-training group (p = 0.006 and p = 0.041, respectively). Dominance has an inverse relation to changes in HR; however, it has no relation to hormone response. No significant differences were observed in testosterone and cortisol changes in the endurance-training, strength-training, and non-training groups after SIE (p > 0.05), which may indicate that the exercise volume was too low.

Keywords: acute exercise; hormonal response; saliva.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The flowchart and study protocol.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sprint interval exercise protocol.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Means and confidence intervals (95%) of the mean heart-rate (beats per minute) measures after five 10-s acute interval exercises in the control, endurance-, and strength-training groups. Asterisks (*) represent significant differences (p < 0.05).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Means and confidence intervals (95%) of the cortisol (A) and testosterone (B) change after five 10-s acute interval exercises in the control, endurance-, and strength-training groups. An asterisk (*) represents a significant difference (p < 0.05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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