Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2018; 39(09): 712-719
DOI: 10.1055/a-0631-3008
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Short-term Dehydroepiandrosterone Intake and Supramaximal Exercise in Young Recreationally-trained Women

Nicolas Gravisse
1   Laboratoire CIAMS, Université Orléans, Orléans, France
,
Nancy Vibarel-Rebot
1   Laboratoire CIAMS, Université Orléans, Orléans, France
,
Zakaria Labsy
2   Département STAPS, University of Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
,
Manh-Cuong Do
2   Département STAPS, University of Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
,
Olivier Gagey
2   Département STAPS, University of Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
,
Céline Dubourg
3   UMR 7355 CNRS, INEM, Université Orléans, Orléans, France
,
Michel Audran
4   AFLD, Département des Analyses, Chatenay-Malabry, France
,
Katia Collomp
1   Laboratoire CIAMS, Université Orléans, Orléans, France
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 16 April 2018

Publication Date:
25 June 2018 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

WADA has banned dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) but its ergogenic effect in female athletes has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether short-term DHEA intake would improve performance during a supramaximal field exercise in healthy young recreationally trained women. Its impact on body composition, metabolic responses was also measured. Eleven young female volunteers completed four running-based anaerobic sprint tests: just before and after treatment with either oral placebo or DHEA (100 mg/day/28days), following a double-blind and randomized protocol. Bioelectrical impedance assessed body composition. At rest and after passive recovery, blood samples were collected for lactate measurement and saliva samples for DHEA, testosterone and cortisol analysis. There was no significant difference in body composition or performance parameters after DHEA administration, despite a tendency toward increased peak power and decreased fat mass. However, DHEA treatment induced a very marked increase in saliva DHEA and testosterone concentrations (p<0.001), with no change in cortisol or lactate levels. In conclusion, short-term DHEA administration did not improve performance or have an anabolic effect in young female recreationally trained athletes, despite the increase in androgenic hormones. Further studies are needed to determine whether a higher daily dose would generate an ergogenic effect during anaerobic exercise.

Key words

doping - DHEA - short-term administration - peak power - testosterone - body composition
 

  • References

  • 1 Balčiūnas M, Stonkus S, Abrantes C, Sampaio J. Long term effects of different training modalities on power, speed, skill and anaerobic capacity in young male basketball players. J Sports Sci Med 2006; 5: 163-170
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Bermon S, Garnier PY. Serum androgen levels and their relation to performance in track and field: Mass spectrometry results from 2127 observations in male and female elite athletes. Br J Sports Med 2017; 51: 1309-1314
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Bhasin S, Storer TW, Berman N, Callegari C, Clevenger B, Phillips J, Bunnell TJ, Tricker R, Shirazi A, Casaburi R. The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men. N Engl J Med 1996; 335: 1-7
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Baume N, Schumacher YO, Sottas PE, Bagutti C, Cauderay M, Mangin P, Saugy M. Effect of multiple oral doses of androgenic anabolic steroids on endurance performance and serum indices of physical stress in healthy male subjects. Eur J Appl Physiol 2006; 98: 329-340
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Brown GA, Vukovich MD, Sharp RL, Reifenrath TA, Parsons KA, King DS. Effect of oral DHEA on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1999; 87: 2274-2283
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Cadore EL, Lhullier FL, Brentano MA, Da Silva EM, Ambrosini MB, Spinelli R, Silva RF, Kruel LF. Salivary hormonal responses to resistance exercise in trained and untrained middle-aged men. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2009; 49: 301-307
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Cipryan L, Gajda V. The influence of aerobic power on repeated anaerobic exercise in junior soccer players. J Hum Kinet 2011; 28: 63-71
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Coelingh Bennink HJ, Zimmerman Y, Laan E, Termeer HM, Appels N, Albert A, Fauser BC, Thijssen JH, Van Lunsen RH. Maintaining physiological testosterone levels by adding dehydroepiandrosterone to combined oral contraceptives: I. Endocrine effects. Contraception 2017; 96: 322-329
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Collomp K, Le Panse B, Portier H, Lecoq AM, Jaffre C, Beaupied H, Richard O, Benhamou L, Courteix D, De Ceaurriz J. Effects of acute salbutamol intake during a Wingate test. Int J Sports Med 2005; 26: 513-517
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Collomp K, Buisson C, Gravisse N, Belgherbi S, Labsy Z, Do MC, Gagey O, Dufay S, Vibarel-Rebot N, Audran M. Effects of short-term DHEA intake on hormonal responses in young recreationally trained athletes: modulation by gender. Endocrine 2018; 59: 538-546
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Copeland JL, Consitt LA, Tremblay MS. Hormonal responses to endurance and resistance exercise in females aged 19-69 years. J Gerontol A Bio Sci Med Sci 2002; 57: B158-B165
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Crewther BT, Lowe TE, Ingram J, Weatherby RP. Validating the salivary testosterone and cortisol concentration measures in response to short high-intensity exercise. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2010; 50: 85-92
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Deminice R, Rosa FT, Franco GS, Jordao AA, de Freitas EC. Effects of creatine supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers after repeated-sprint exercise in humans. Nutrition 2013; 29: 1127-1132
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Eklund E, Berglund B, Labrie F, Carlström K, Ekström L, Hirschberg AL. Serum androgen profile and physical performance in women Olympic athletes. Br J Sports Med 2017; 51: 1301-1308
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Enea C, Boisseau N, Ottavy M, Mulliez J, Millet C, Ingrand I, Diaz V, Dugué B. Effects of menstrual cycle, oral contraception, and training on exercise-induced changes in circulating DHEA-sulphate and testosterone in young women. Eur J Appl Physiol 2009; 106: 365-373
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Fiers T, Delanghe J, T'Sjoen G, Van Caenegem E, Wierckx K, Kaufman JM. A critical evaluation of salivary testosterone as a method for the assessment of serum testosterone. Steroids 2014; 86: 5-9
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Girard O, Mendez-Villanueva A, Bishop D. Repeated-sprint ability – part I: factors contributing to fatigue. Sports Med 2011; 41: 673-694
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 González F, Sia CL, Bearson DM, Blair HE. Hyperandrogenism induces a proinflammatory TNFα response to glucose ingestion in a receptor-dependent fashion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2014; 99: E848-E854
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Gooren LJ, Behre HM. Testosterone treatment of hypogonadal men participating in competitive sports. Andrologia 2008; 40: 195-199
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Granger DA, Shirtcliff EA, Booth A, Kivlighan KT, Schwartz EB. The “trouble” with salivary testosterone. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2004; 29: 1229-1240
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Gröschl M. Current status of salivary hormone analysis. Clin Chem 2008; 54: 1759-1769
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Guimard A, Zorgati H, Brulaire S, Amiot V, Prieur F, Collomp K. Physiological dynamic apnea responses in relation to apnea capacity in triathletes. Int J Sports Med 2017; 38: 521-526
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Hahner S, Allolio B. Dehydroepiandrosterone to enhance physical performance: myth and reality. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2010; 39: 127-139
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Harriss DJ, Macsween A, Atkinson G. Standards for ethics in sport and exercise science research: 2018 update. Int J Sports Med 2017; 38: 1126-1131
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Hartgens F, Kuipers H. Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids in athletes. Sports Med 2004; 34: 513-554
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Hayes LD, Sculthorpe N, Young JD, Baker JS, Grace FM. Critical difference applied to exercise-induced salivary testosterone and cortisol using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): Distinguishing biological from statistical change. J Physiol Biochem 2014; 70: 991-996
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Hayes LD, Sculthorpe N, Cunniffe B, Grace F. Salivary testosterone and cortisol measurement in sports medicine: A narrative review and user's guide for researchers and practitioners. Int J Sports Med 2016; 37: 1007-1018
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Huang G, Basaria S. Do anabolic-androgenic steroids have performance-enhancing effects in female athletes?. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 464: 56-64
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Karbowska J, Kochan Z. Effects of DHEA on metabolic and endocrine functions of adipose tissue. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig 2013; 14: 65-74
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Labrie F. DHEA, important source of sex steroids in men and even more in women. Prog Brain Res 2010; 182: 97-148
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Le Panse B, Arlettaz A, Portier H, Lecoq AM, De Ceaurriz J, Collomp K. Effects of acute salbutamol intake during supramaximal exercise in women. Br J Sports Med 2007; 41: 430-434
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Le Panse B, Vibarel-Rebot N, Parage G, Albrings D, Amiot V, De Ceaurriz J, Collomp K. Cortisol, DHEA, and testosterone concentrations in saliva in response to an international powerlifting competition. Stress 2010; 13: 528-532
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Le Panse B, Labsy Z, Baillot A, Vibarel-Rebot N, Parage G, Albrings D, Lasne F, Collomp K. Changes in steroid hormones during an international powerlifting competition. Steroids 2012; 77: 1339-1344
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Liao YH, Liao KF, Kao CL, Chen CY, Huang CY, Chang WH, Ivy JL, Bernard JR, Lee SD, Kuo CH. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone administration on recovery from mix-type exercise training-induced muscle damage. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013; 113: 99-107
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Liu TC, Lin CH, Huang CY, Ivy JL, Kuo CH. Effect of acute DHEA administration on free testosterone in middle-aged and young men following high-intensity interval training. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013; 113: 1783-1792
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Malczyk E, Dzięgielewska-Gęsiak S, Fatyga E, Ziółko E, Kokot T, Muc-Wierzgon M. Body composition in healthy older persons: Role of the ratio of extracellular/total body water. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2016; 30: 767-772
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Nestler JE, Barlascini CO, Clore JN, Blackard WG. Dehydroepiandrosterone reduces serum low density lipoprotein levels and body fat but does not alter insulin sensitivity in normal men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1988; 66: 57-61
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Ostojic SM, Calleja J, Jourkesh M. Effects of short-term dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on body composition in young athletes. Chin J Physiol 2010; 53: 19-25
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Papacosta E, Nassis GP. Saliva as a tool for monitoring steroid, peptide and immune markers in sport and exercise science. J Sci Med Sport 2011; 14: 424-434
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Rey F, Chiodoni G, Gomez F, Felber JP. Interpretation of the discrepancy observed between plasma free and salivary testosterone levels in man. Steroids 1988; 52: 371-372
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Rogerson S, Weatherby RP, Deakin GB, Meir RA, Coutts RA, Zhou S, Marshall-Gradisnik SM. The effect of short-term use of testosterone enanthate on muscular strength and power in healthy young men. J Strength Cond Res 2007; 21: 354-361
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Thomasson R, Baillot A, Jollin L, Lecoq AM, Amiot V, Lasne F, Collomp K. Correlation between plasma and saliva adrenocortical hormones in response to submaximal exercise. J Physiol Sci 2010; 60: 435-439
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 WADA. A List of Prohibited Substances and Methods 2018
    PubMed
  • 44 Wallace MB, Lim J, Cutler A, Bucci L. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone vs androstenedione supplementation in men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999; 31: 1788-1792
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Welle S, Jozefowicz R, Statt M. Failure of dehydroepiandrosterone to influence energy and protein metabolism in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990; 71: 1259-1264
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 46 Zagatto AM, Beck WR, Gobatto CA. Validity of the running anaerobic sprint test for assessing anaerobic power and predicting short-distance performances. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 1820-1827
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar