Acute and Chronic Hormonal Responses to Resistance Training Designed to Promote Muscle Hypertrophy

Abstract

Acute and chronic hormonal responses to resistance training were evaluated in 11 college men who completed 12 weeks (33 sessions) of high volume resistance training. No differences in resting concentrations of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I, testosterone, or sex hormone-binding globulin occurred from pre- and posttraining in the trained vs. nontrained control group. However, cortisol (C) decreased 17% for both groups (p < 0.05). There were no differences in exercise-induced responses between Sessions 10 and 20, with all hormone concentrations increasing (p < 0.05) from pre- at mid- and postexercise session. However, after correction for plasma volume decreases, only C and GH showed differences, with C increased from mid- to postsession (48% 10th: 49% 20th), and GH increased from pre- at mid- and postsession for both sessions 10 (0.16 ± 0.42 pre; 4.77 ± 6.24 mid; 6.26 ± 5.19 post; µg L−1) and 20 (0.33 ± 085 pre; 5.42 ± 9.08 mid; 8.24 ± 7.61 post; µg L−1). Significant correlations (p < 0.05) existed only between absolute mean GH increases from presession and the degree of muscle fiber hypertrophy for type I (r = 0.70 mid, 0.74 post) and type II (r = 0.71 post) fibers. In conclusion, resistance training had no effect on resting serum hormone concentrations, whereas similar acute exercise responses occurred between the 10th and 20th training sessions. Keywords: humans, weight training, growth hormone, IGF-I, testosterone, cortisol