Cortisol, DHEA, performance and training in elite swimmers.
Salivary cortisol (C) and DHEA concentrations were measured in 9 elite swimmers (4 female and 5 male) over a 37-week period, 5 to 12 times per swimmer, before 68 competitions. For female and male swimmers, no significant relationship was found between C, DHEA and performance. For the whole group, C was negatively correlated with week number of training (r = -0.31, p < 0.01). The incorporation of the cumulated distance swum as a second variable in the regression increased r to 0.56 (p < 0.01). The higher the cumulated distance swum, the higher C. No significant relationship was found between DHEA and distance swum. For individual swimmers, 3 of 4 females showed a significant negative relationship between C and cumulated dry-land training. No equivalent relationship was found for DHEA. The 2 males practicing dry-land training showed a significant and negative relationship between DHEA and cumulated dry-land training. No equivalent relationship was found for C. Thus, C and DHEA were not good predictors of swimming performance. C for individual females, and DHEA for individual males were considered useful markers for dry-land training stress.
Chatard
J-C
JC
Laboratoire de Physiologie, GIP Exercice, Faculté de Médecine Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne, France. chatard@univ-st-etienne.fr
Atlaoui
D
D
Lac
G
G
Duclos
M
M
Hooper
S
S
Mackinnon
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012463:Saliva; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone