title: The role of DHEA-S in the mood adjustment against negative competition outcome in golfers.
abstract: Several lines of evidence suggest that dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) is invariably consumed following different types of acute stress, implicating its role in stress coping and recovery. The role of DHEA-S in the mood adjustment against negative outcome for athletic competition has not previously been investigated. In the current study, 14 elite golfers participating in a major national golf tournament were subsequently divided into two groups according to their competition outcomes: made the cut (n=8) and failed to make the cut (n 8). The Profile of Mood States (POMS) inventory and plasma concentrations of DHEA-S and cortisol were measured 1 day before the beginning of competition (baseline) and 1, 3, and 5 days after the players' final competition, in the morning (08.00-08.30 h) under fasted conditions. Results showed that the total mood disturbance scores and DHEA-S were not changed for the group that made the cut throughout the entire observation period. DHEA-S concentration for the group that failed to make the cut fell significantly below baseline values on day 1 and remained lower for 5 days. The Depression subscale of the POMS for the group that failed to make the cut was increased only on day 1 post-competition, reflecting a situational reaction to the event. Cortisol concentration for the group that made the cut fell significantly below baseline values on day 1 only after competition and no change was observed for the group that failed to make the cut. In conclusion, although the overall mood state post-competition was well-maintained for those golfers who had a negative competition outcome, plasma DHEA-S concentration was reduced for 5 days, suggesting that it has a role in the coping mechanism against psychological challenge.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry, Taipei Physical Education College, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Tsung
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shu-Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shin-Da
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mei-Chich
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Kun-Ning
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuh-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Chia-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000523:psychology*; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D006055:Golf / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone