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Is salivary cortisol moderating the relationship between salivary testosterone and hand-grip strength in healthy men?

Blair T. Crewther, Andrew Thomas Orcid Logo, Steve Stewart-Williams, Liam P. Kilduff, Christian J. Cook, Liam Kilduff Orcid Logo

European Journal of Sport Science, Volume: 17, Issue: 2, Pages: 188 - 194

Swansea University Authors: Andrew Thomas Orcid Logo, Liam Kilduff Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1080/17461391.2016.1220628

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...

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Published in: European Journal of Sport Science
ISSN: 1746-1391 1536-7290
Published: 2017
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29299
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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.
Keywords: Testing, stress, endocrinology, performance
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Issue: 2
Start Page: 188
End Page: 194

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