Effects of heavy-resistance training on hormonal response patterns in younger vs. older men

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 87; no. 3; pp. 982 - 992
• Main Authors: Kraemer, William J, Hakkinen, Keijo, Newton, Robert U, Nindl, Bradley C, Volek, Jeff S, McCormick, Matthew, Gotshalk, Lincoln A, Gordon, Scott E, Fleck, Steven J, Campbell, Wayne W, Putukian, Margot, Evans, William J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.09.1999; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood; Adult; Aging; Aging - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition - physiology; Development. Metamorphosis. Moult. Ageing; Endocrine system; Exercise; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hematocrit; Hormones; Hormones - blood; Human Growth Hormone - blood; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 - metabolism; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; Male; Men; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Physical Fitness - physiology; Testosterone - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Weight Lifting - physiology; Human; Physical exercise; Senescence; Physical training; Insulin like growth factor 1; Hydrocortisone; Male climacteric; Testosterone; Adrenocorticotropic hormone; Hormonal regulation; Age; Adaptation; Growth factor
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1999.87.3.982

1  Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 47306; 2  Center for Sports Medicine/Noll Physiological Research Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802; 3  Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland; 4  School of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia; 5  Nutrition, Metabolism, and Exercise Laboratory, Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114-1706; and 6  Department of Sport Science, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80913 To examine the adaptations of the endocrine system to heavy-resistance training in younger vs. older men, two groups of men (30 and 62 yr old) participated in a 10-wk periodized strength-power training program. Blood was obtained before, immediately after, and 5, 15, and 30 min after exercise at rest before and after training and at rest at 3, 0, 6, and 10 wk for analysis of total testosterone, free testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone, lactate, and ACTH analysis. Resting values for insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein-3 were determined before and after training. A heavy-resistance exercise test was used to evaluate the exercise-induced responses (4 sets of 10-repetition maximum squats with 90 s of rest between sets). Squat strength and thigh muscle cross-sectional area increased for both groups. The younger group demonstrated higher total and free testosterone and IGF-I than the older men, training-induced increases in free testosterone at rest and with exercise, and increases in resting IGF-binding protein-3. With training the older group demonstrated a significant increase in total testosterone in response to exercise stress along with significant decreases in resting cortisol. These data indicate that older men do respond with an enhanced hormonal profile in the early phase of a resistance training program, but the response is different from that of younger men. endocrine; aging; sarcopenia; strength; muscle; andropause; somatopause; growth factors