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David R Hooper Dissertation.pdf (1.14 MB)

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Pathogenesis and Symptomology of the Exercise-Hypogonodal Male Condition

Hooper, David Robert
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1447843593

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Kinesiology.
Men that engage in high volumes of long distance running have been previously shown to demonstrate low testosterone concentrations. However, both the cause and the consequences of the condition remain undetermined. The purpose of this study was to identify the pathogenesis of the condition as well as to determine whether symptoms that are typically seen in other populations with reduced testosterone are present. 9 men (Age: 36.3 ± 9.2 years; Height: 180.0 ± 8.8 cm; Weight: 77.2 ± 6.8 kg) performing an average of 81 ± 14 km per week of running for the past 12 months (EHMC) were compared to 8 men who served as control (CONT) subjects (Age: 30.8 ± 6.3 years; Height: 176.9 ± 5.2; Weight: 77.3 ± 10.7 kg) performing no regular exercise for the past 12 months. Blood samples were taken every 15 minutes beginning at 08:00 and continuing until 12:00, for a total of 17 blood draws. Blood was analyzed for testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and cortisol (C). Subjects underwent a dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan to assess bone density and body composition. Subjects also completed the Aging Male Symptoms (AMS) questionnaire and a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). As expected, T concentrations were significantly (P = 0.05) reduced in the EHMC group compared with CONT at all time points. There were no differences in LH. The EHMC group demonstrated significantly (P = 0.05) higher AMS scores (EHMC: 26.0 ± 7.1 vs CONT: 21.7 ± 5.5). There were no differences in body composition or bone density. There were no differences in energy intake (EHMC: 2710.6 ± 800.1 vs CONT: 2742.8 ± 969.0 kcal), but there was a significantly (P = 0.05) higher contribution from carbohydrate in the EHMC group (EHMC: 48.6 ± 3.8 vs CONT: 36.5 ± 9.0 %). This study was the first to document that reduced T concentrations resulting from high volumes of long distance running leads to the demonstration of hypogonadal symptoms. This study also revealed that despite running an average of over 80 km per week at an estimated energy cost of 901 kcal/day, the EHMC group do not consume any more calories than their weight matched sedentary controls. This suggests that the long distance runners are likely in a substantial caloric deficit and failing to consume adequate calories in the diet to support the high levels of activity may be contributing to the condition. Furthermore, examining individual differences showed that some men may be protected against the reduced T response, while others may suffer particularly severe symptoms. Individual differences also showed that in some cases LH concentrations can be severely dampened, possibly due to an exhaustion of the GnRH neuron. In conclusion, this study revealed that long distance runners with reduced testosterone concentrations do exhibit symptoms consistent with the condition of hypogonadism and thus may warrant treatment. However, the symptoms are mostly minor and a carte blanche pharmaceutical intervention is not advised at present.
William Kraemer, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Carl Maresh, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Jeff Volek, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Brian Focht, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
90 p.
Endocrinology; Kinesiology; Physiology
Hypogonadism; low testosterone; long-distance running

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hooper, D. R. (2015). Pathogenesis and Symptomology of the Exercise-Hypogonodal Male Condition [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1447843593

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hooper, David. Pathogenesis and Symptomology of the Exercise-Hypogonodal Male Condition. 2015. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1447843593.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hooper, David. "Pathogenesis and Symptomology of the Exercise-Hypogonodal Male Condition." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1447843593

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1447843593
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.