Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

SHBG, plasma, and urinary androgens in weight lifters after a strength training

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous studies with different results have suggested that total and bioavailable testosterone levels are modified by physical exercise. Such changes may be related to modifications in cortisol levels and could be reflected in some urine androgens. To determine how weight lifting training may affect serum and urinary androgens, we measured total serum testosterone (T), cortisol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and urinary testosterone, epitestosterone, androsterone, and etiocholanolone, in a group of 19 elite weight lifters after 20 weeks of training. SHBG increased (from 27.5 ± 9.5 to 34.7 ± 8.1 nM, p < 0.05) whereas T/SHBG decreased significantly (from 1.10 ± 0.4 to 0.85 ± 0.3, p < 0.05). Serum total testosterone and cortisol did not change significantly. In urine, androsterone and etiocholanolone decreased significantly, whereas testosterone and epitestosterone remained unchanged. Changes in T/SHBG were related positively with changes in urinary androgens (r = 0.680, p < 0.01), and changes in SHBG were negatively related with changes in urinary androgens (r = −0.578, p < 0.01). These results suggest that intense physical activity may have an influence on the elimination of androgenic hormones due mainly to changes in their transporting protein SHBG.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ahrentsen OD, Jensen HK, Johnsen SG (1982) Sex-hormone-binding globulin deficiency. Lancet 2:377

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ahtiainen JP, Pakarinen A, Alen M, Kraemer WJ, Häkkinen K (2003) Muscle hypertrophy, hormonal adaptations and strength development during strength training in strength-trained and untrained men. Eur J Appl Physiol 89(6):555–563

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ahtiainen JP, Pakarinen A, Kraemer WJ, Häkkinen K (2004) Acute hormonal responses to heavy resistance exercise in strength athletes versus nonathletes. Can J Appl Physiol 29(5):527–543

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bosco C, Colli R, Bonomi R, Von Duvillard SP, Viru A (2000) Monitoring strength training: neuromuscular and hormonal profile. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32:202–208

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Brožek J, Grande F, Anderson JT, Keys A (1963) Densitometric analysis of body composition: revision of some quantitative assumptions. Ann NY Acad Sci 101:113–140

    Google Scholar 

  6. Buresh R, Berg K, French J (2009) The effect of resistive exercise rest interval on hormonal response, strength, and hypertrophy with training. J Strength Cond Res 23(1):62–71

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Caballero MJ, Mallol J (1987) Physiopathological role of bald-scalp cytosolic proteins. Rev Esp Fisiol 43:229–238

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Caballero MJ, Mena P, Maynar M (1992) Changes in sex hormone binding globulin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and plasma lipid levels in male cyclists during training and competition. Eur J Appl Physiol 64:9–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cadore EL, Lhullier FL, Brentano MA, da Silva EM, Ambrosini MB, Spinelli R, Silva RF, Kruel LF (2008) Hormonal responses to resistance exercise in long-term trained and untrained middle-aged men. J Strength Cond Res 22(5):1617–1624

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Carlström K, Gershagen S, Rannevik (1987) Free testosterone and testosterone/SHBG index in hirsute women: a comparison of diagnostic accuracy. Gynecol Obstet Invest 24:256–261

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Cumming DC (2000) The male reproductive system, exercise and training. In: Warren MP, Constantini NW (eds) Sports endocrinology. Humana, Totowa, pp 119–131

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  12. Cumming DC, Brunsting LA, Strick G, Ries AL, Rebar RW (1986) Reproductive hormonal increases in response to acute exercise in men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 18:369–373

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Donike M, Zimmermann J, Bärwald K-R, Schänzer W, Christ V, Klostermann K, Opfermann G (1984) Routinebestimmung von anabolika im ham. Deutsch Z Sportmedizin 35:14–24

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Durnin JV, Womersley J (1974) Body fat content assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years. Br J Nutr 32:77–97

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Fry AC, Kraemer WJ, Stone MH, Warren BJ, Fleck SJ, Kearney JT, Gordon SE (1994) Endocrine responses to overreaching before and after 1 year of weightlifting. Can J Appl Physiol 19(4):400–410

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Grandys M, Majerczak J, Duda K, Zapart-Bukowska J, Sztefko K, Zoladz JA (2008) The effect of endurance training on muscle strength in young, healthy men in relation to hormonal status. J Physiol Pharmacol 59(Suppl 7):89–103

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Hakkinen K, Pakarinen A (1993) Acute hormonal response to two different fatiguing heavy resistance protocols in male athletes. J Appl Physiol 74(2):882–887

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Häkkinen K, Pakarinen A (1991) Serum hormones in male strength athletes during intensive short term strength training. Eur J Appl Physiol 63:194–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hämäläinen E, Tikkanen H, Härkönen M, Näveri H, Adlercreutz A (1987) Serum lipoproteins, sex hormones and sex hormone binding globulin in middle-aged men of different physical fitness and risk of coronary heart disease. Atherosclerosis 67:155–162

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hansen S, Kworning T, Kjaer M, Sjogaard G (2001) The effect of short-term strength training on human skeletal muscle: the importance of physiologically elevated hormone levels. Scand J Med Sci Sports 11(6):347–354

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Heinegard D, Tiderstrom G (1973) Determination of serum creatinine by a direct colorimetric method. Clin Chem Acta 43:305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hickson RC, Hidaka K, Foster C, Falduto MT, Chatterton RT Jr (1994) Successive time courses of strength development and steroid hormone responses to heavy-resistance training. J Appl Physiol 76:663–70

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hoogeveen AR, Zonderland ML (1996) Relationships between testosterone, cortisol and performance in professional cyclists. Int J Sports Med 17(6):423–428

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Izquierdo M, Ibañez J, Gonzalez-Badillo JJ, Hakkinen K, Ratamess NA, Kraemer WJ, French DN, Eslava J, Altadill A, Asiain X, Gorostiaga EM (2006) Differential effects of strength training leading to failure versus not to failure on hormonal responses, strength, and muscle power gains. J Appl Physiol 100:1647–1656

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Khan SM, Hryb DJ, Nakhla AM, Romas NA, Rosner W (2002) Sex hormone-binding globulin is synthesized in target cells. J Endocrinol 175:113–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Kraemer RR, Hollander DB, Reeves GV, Francois M, Ramadan ZG, Meeker B, Tryniecki JL, Hebert EP, Castracane VD (2006) Similar hormonal responses to concentric and eccentric muscle actions using relative loading. Eur J Appl Physiol 96:551–557

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA (2005) Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training. Sports Med 35:339–361

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Lindholm C, Lindén Hirschberg A, Carlström K, von Shoultz B (1993) Hormone anabolic/catabolic balance in female endurance athletes. Gynecol Obstet Invest 36:176–180

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Mauvais-Jarvis P, Baulieu EE (1965) Studies on testosterone metabolism. IV. Urinary 5-alpha- and beta-androstanediols and testosterone glucuronide from testosterone and dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate in normal people and hirsute women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 25(9):1167–1178

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Maynar M, Caballero MJ, Mena P, Rodríguez C, Cortés R, Maynar JI (1994) Urine excretion of androgen hormones in professional racing cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol 68:200–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Narasaka T, Moriya T, Endoh M, Suzuki T, Shizawa S, Mizokami Y, Matsuoka T, Sasano H (2000) 17Beta-hydroxysteroids dehydrogenase type 2 and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotranferase in the human liver. Endocr J 47:697–705

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Ortega Anta RM, López Sobaler AM, Requejo Marcos AM, Andrés Carvajales P (2004) La composición de los alimentos. Herramienta básica para la valoración nutricional. Editorial Complutense, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  34. Raastad T, Glomsheller T, Bjøro T, Hallén J (2001) Changes in human skeletal muscle contractility and hormone status during 2 weeks of heavy strength training. Eur J Appl Physiol 84:54–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Rosner W (1991) Plasma steroid-binding proteins. Endocrinol Metab Clin N Am 20(4):697–720

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Schwab R, Johnson GO, Housh TJ, Kinder JE, Weir JP (1993) Acute effects of different intensities of weight lifting on serum testosterone. Med Sci Sports Exerc 25:1381–1385

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Smilios I, Pilianidis T, Karamouzis M, Tokmakidis SP (2003) Hormonal responses alter various resistance exercise protocols. Med Sci Sports Exerc 35:644–654

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Timon R, Maynar Marino M, Munoz Marín D, Olcina Camacho GJ, Caballero MJ, Maynar Marino JI (2007) Variations in urine excretion of steroid hormones after an acute session and after a 4-week programme of strength training. Eur J Appl Physiol 99:65–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Timon R, Olcina G, Tomas-Carus P, Muñoz D, Toribio F, Raimundo A, Maynar M (2009) Urinary steroid profile alter the completion of concentric and concentric/eccentric trials with the same total workload. J Physiol Biochem 65(2):105–112

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Toscano V, Balducci R, Bianchi P, Guglielmi R, Mangiantini A, Sciarra F (1992) Steroidal and non-steroidal factors in plasma sex hormone-binding globulin regulation. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 43:431–437

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Urhausen A, Kindermann W (1987) Behaviour of testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and cortisol before and after a triathlon competition. Int J Sports Med 8:305–308

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Vermeulen A, Ando S (1979) Metabolic clearance rate and interconversion of androgens and the influence of the free androgen fractions. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 48:320–326

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Viru AM, Hackney AC, Valja E, Karelson K, Janson T, Viru M (2001) Influence of prolonged continuous exercise on hormone responses to subsequent exercise in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 85:578–585

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Zhou ZH, Liu JH, Jin YL, He P, Zhao PL, Wang XM (2000) Effects of different loading exercises on endogenous sex hormones and their metabolites. Hunan Yi Ke Da Xue Bao 25:23–26

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Sport Sciences Faculty, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain

    Marcos Maynar & Alfredo González

  2. Department of Physical Education and Sport, Sport Sciences Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10071, Cáceres, Spain

    Rafael Timon & Guillermo Olcina

  3. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Sciences Faculty, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain

    Fermin Toribio & Juan I. Maynar

  4. Department of Pharmacology, Medicine Faculty, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain

    Maria J. Caballero

Authors
  1. Marcos Maynar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rafael Timon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alfredo González
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guillermo Olcina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Fermin Toribio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Juan I. Maynar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Maria J. Caballero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rafael Timon.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Maynar, M., Timon, R., González, A. et al. SHBG, plasma, and urinary androgens in weight lifters after a strength training. J Physiol Biochem 66, 137–142 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-010-0018-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-010-0018-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation