Abstract
Background and objective Soccer is associated with repetitive head trauma, which, as it is known from sports
like football and boxing, can result in hypopituitarism. Gonadotropins and GH are
the most common pituitary hormones to become deficient. GH deficiency is associated
with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and has negative influence on body
mass index, visceral fat mass, insulin resistance and sensitivity, bone mineral density
and inflammatory markers. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the somatotrope
pituitary function in professional soccer players.
Research design and methods This clinical study included 15 male, professional soccer players with at least
10 years of professional training. Basal hormonal parameters of the pituitary axis
were obtained from the participants. To assess GH-IGF-I axis, glucagon stimulation
tests were used. Rise in growth hormone during glucagon test was analyzed and the
prevalence of newly diagnosed hormone deficiencies was evaluated.
Results Mean age of all participants was 31±10 years. None of the 15 soccer players had
GH deficiency. Mean rising factor of GH after stimulation with glucagon was 100 in
all participants. We did not find signs of ACTH, TSH or LH/FSH deficiency in any player.
Conclusions In this small collective of soccer players we did not find playing soccer to be
a risk factor for the development of GH-deficiency. According to our data screening
for somatotrope deficiency is not necessary. Further investigations in larger cohorts
are needed.
Key words
hormone deficiency - growth hormone - hypopituitarism - somatotrope deficiency - sports
