Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Testosterone and Cortisol Hormone of Blood Serum of Sedentary Male Students

Abstract

Objectives:  The aim of this research was to determine the effect of two months of intermittent aerobic exercise on cortisol and testosterone hormones. Methods:  Twenty healthy sedentary volunteer male subjects (age: 22.2 ± 3.2; height: 174.5 ± 4.6 cm) participated in this research. They were randomly assigned into two groups of experimental and control conditions. Fasting blood sample was drawn prior to the start of the exercise program from both groups. The experimental group participated in 8 consecutive weeks of intermittent aerobic exercise running 4 distances of 200 meter with rest interval between each run. The running distance increased 400 meter weekly. At the end of the program, fasting blood samples was obtained to measure the testosterone and cortisol hormone. Results:  The results of analysis indicated that no significant changes occurred in the mean value of serum testosterone of both groups in the experimental and control group (P > 0.05). However, the exercise condition caused a significant change in the mean value of serum cortisol in the exercising group (P = 0.0001). Conclusions:  The significant change in cortisol was associated with significant weight loss in the exercise group suggesting that this condition caused inflammation in addition to the fat catabolism in the exercised group.