title: Is salivary cortisol moderating the relationship between salivary testosterone and hand-grip strength in healthy men?
abstract: This study examined the moderating effect of cortisol (C) on the relationship between testosterone (T) and hand-grip strength (HGS) in healthy young men. Sixty-five males were monitored for salivary T, C and HGS before and 15 min after a short bout (5 × 6-s trials) of sprint cycling exercise. Sprint exercise promoted (p < .05) positive changes in T (6.1 ± 24.9%) and HGS (3.4 ± 7.5%), but a negative C response (-14.4 ± 33.1%). The T and C measures did not independently predict HGS, but a significant T × C interaction was found in relation to these outcomes. Further testing revealed that pre-test T and HGS were negatively associated (p < .05), but only in men with high C levels. The exercise changes in T and HGS were also negatively related in men with low C levels (p < .05), but no relationship was seen in men with high C levels. In summary, complex relationships between T and HGS emerged when considering C as a moderating variable. The pre-test combination of high C and low T levels favoured absolute HGS, whereas low pre-test C levels and a smaller T change were linked to larger HGS changes. These associations suggest that, in the current format, T is not necessarily anabolic to muscle strength in healthy young men. Such complexities could also explain some of the inconsistent T relationships with physical performance in lesser trained male populations.
authors: a Department of Endocrinology , Institute of Sport - National Research Institute , Warsaw , Poland.|b Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College , London , UK.|c A-STEM, Health and Sport Portfolio , School of Engineering, Swansea University , Swansea , UK.
authors: Blair T
authors: BT
authors: Crewther
authors: d Department of Psychology , Swansea University , Swansea , UK.
authors: Andrew G
authors: AG
authors: Thomas
authors: d Department of Psychology , Swansea University , Swansea , UK.
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Stewart-Williams
authors: b Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College , London , UK.|f Welsh Institute of Performance Science, School of Engineering, Swansea University , Swansea , UK.
authors: Liam P
authors: LP
authors: Kilduff
authors: b Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College , London , UK.|c A-STEM, Health and Sport Portfolio , School of Engineering, Swansea University , Swansea , UK.|e School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University , Bangor , UK.|f Welsh Institute of Performance Science, School of Engineering, Swansea University , Swansea , UK.|g Queensland Academy of Sport's Centre of Excellence for Applied Sport Science Research , Queensland , Australia.
authors: Christian J
authors: CJ
authors: Cook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011897:Random Allocation; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Testing; endocrinology; performance; stress