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Int J Sports Med 2012; 33(03): 244-248
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291251
Clinical Sciences
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Leptin and Endocrine Parameters in Marathon Runners

T. Bobbert
1   Charité, Department of Endocrinolgy, Diabetes and Nutrition, Berlin, Germany
,
K. Mai
1   Charité, Department of Endocrinolgy, Diabetes and Nutrition, Berlin, Germany
,
L. Brechtel
2   Humboldt University of Berlin, Institute of Sports Science, Berlin, Germany
,
H. M. Schulte
3   Endokrinologikum, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
,
B. Weger
3   Endokrinologikum, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
,
A.F. H. Pfeiffer
4   Charité, Department of Endocrinolgy, Diabetes and Nutrition, Berlin, Germany
,
J. Spranger
4   Charité, Department of Endocrinolgy, Diabetes and Nutrition, Berlin, Germany
,
S. Diederich
5   Endokrinologikum, Berlin, Berlin, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 20 September 2011

Publication Date:
19 January 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Endurance training may lead to different hormonal alterations e. g., exercised induced hypothalamic ovarian/testicular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to reveal new connections between physical exercise, leptin and hormonal responses. 36 male participants of the Berlin-Marathon had their blood samples taken 2 days before the marathon. Hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and leptin were correlated with the training status and the achieved marathon time. Leptin correlated with the achieved marathon time after being adjusted for age and BMI (r=0.607, p<0.001) and was lowest in the best trained runners. Additionally, when the group was divided into quartiles of their achieved marathon time, significantly increased cortisol, fT4, cortisol/DHEAS ratio and decreased IGF-1 levels were observed in the slowest group. In the better trained group, a decrease of testosterone/DHT ratio and an increase of testosterone/cortisol ratio were observed. Our study supports the thesis of a linear relationship between physical fitness and leptin variations in the physiological range. We found an increased anabolic hormonal response in well trained marathon runners and hormonal reactions of increased stress in less trained runners. As the stress-induced neuroendocrine adaptations in our study group are associated with more higher leptin values, the pathophysiological role of decreased leptin values seems to be limited to overtrained athletes.

Key words

leptin - hypothalamic-pituitary axis - overtraining
 

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