title: The effect of a volleyball practice on anabolic hormones and inflammatory markers in elite male and female adolescent players.
abstract: The effect of a single exercise as well as exercise training on the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) axis and inflammatory cytokines was studied mainly in adults participating in individualized endurance-type sports. The gender-specific effect of exercise on these systems in adolescents is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a typical volleyball practice on anabolic (GH, IGF-I, and testosterone) and catabolic hormones (cortisol) and inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6 [IL-6]) in elite, national team level, male (n = 14) and female (n = 13) adolescent volleyball players (13-18 years, Tanner stage 4-5). Exercise consisted of a typical 1-hour volleyball practice. Blood samples were collected before and immediately after the practice. Exercise led to significant increases in GH (0.2 +/- 0.1 to 2.7 +/- 0.7 and 1.7 +/- 0.5 to 6.4 +/- 1.4 ng x mL, in men and women, respectively, p < 0.05 for both), testosterone (6.1 +/- 0.9 to 7.3 +/- 1.0 and 2.4 +/- 0.6 to 3.3 +/- 0.7 ng x mL, in men and women, respectively, p < 0.05 for both), and IL-6 (1.1 +/- 0.6 to 3.1 +/- 1.5 and 1.2 +/- 0.5 to 2.5 +/- 1.1 pg x mL, in men and women, respectively, p < 0.002 for both). Exercise had no significant effect on IGF-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, and cortisol levels. There were no gender differences in the hormonal response to training. Changes in GH and testosterone after the volleyball practice suggest exercise-related anabolic adaptations. The increase in IL-6 may indicate its important role in muscle tissue repair. These changes may serve as an objective quantitative tool to monitor training intensity in unique occasions in team sports.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, Child Health and Sport Center, Meir Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. eliakim.alon@clalit.org.il
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eliakim
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Portal
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zadik
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adler-Portal
authors.forename: Dan M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaldivar
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nemet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D054798:Volleyball / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019344:Lactic Acid; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D010450:Endopeptidases; C080473:insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 protease; D006854:Hydrocortisone