title: Beta-endorphin response to endurance exercise: relationship to exercise dependence.
abstract: Considerable research has shown significant increases in beta-endorphin levels after aerobic activity. These increases and their accompanying euphoric effect have been suggested as a possible psychophysiological mechanism underlying the exercise-dependence syndrome. The relationship between plasma beta-endorphin levels and a tendency towards exercise dependence, however, has not been established. To examine this relationship, 8 women trained in aerobic dance completed an exercise-dependence assessment prior to participation in a 45-min. session of continuous aerobic dance. Plasma beta-endorphin concentration was measured both prior to and following the aerobics routine. A Student t test for paired observations indicated that mean plasma beta-endorphin levels (+/- SE) were significantly higher after the aerobics routine (11.96 +/- 1.3 pg beta-EP.ml-1) than preexercise levels (8.62 +/- 1.4). However, beta-endorphin difference values (% change) were not significantly correlated with scores on the exercise-dependence survey. Those data suggest that scores on exercise dependence are not related to changes in plasma beta-endorphin levels after aerobic exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Sport Science, University of Richmond, Virginia 23173.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Eastman
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Dewey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin