Metabolic, endocrine, and reproductive changes of a woman channel swimmer.
We report the coordinated metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive data of a female channel swimmer during the pre-swim training period, immediately post-swim, and in the post-swim untrained state. Urine and blood samples collected at these times were assayed for diurnal urinary catecholamines, urinary C-peptide and 3-methylhistidine, total blood ketone bodies, glycerol, the reproductive hormones, adrenal androgens, and thyroid hormones. Subcutaneous fat was measured by ultrasonography. All of the metabolic and hormonal data post-swim except cortisol reflected the severe physiological stress. Urinary catecholamines returned to near-normal levels by 12 hours post-swim. The metabolic changes were associated with reproductive changes, including a shortened luteal phase, absence of ovulation, and increased LH secretion relative to FSH. The swimmer maintained high levels of body fat; she did not become amenorrheic. Metabolic and reproductive hormone levels returned to normal by 2 months post-swim.
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000328:Adult; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000652:urine; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000652:urine; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance; D013550:Swimming; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D014465:Ultrasonics
D002096:C-Peptide; D002395:Catecholamines; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006728:Hormones; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D008762:Methylhistidines; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; C028118:3-methylhistidine; D005990:Glycerol