Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39261323›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of applied physiology2025

Changes in hormonal profiles during competition preparation in physique athletes.

Ville Isola, Juha J Hulmi, Theo Mbay, Heikki Kyröläinen, Keijo Häkkinen, Vilho Ahola, Eric R Helms, Juha P Ahtiainen

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of applied physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ville IsolaFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland. ville.isola@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7170-158X
Juha J HulmiFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Theo MbayFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Heikki KyröläinenFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Keijo HäkkinenFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Vilho AholaSports and Exercise Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Eric R HelmsSports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
Juha P AhtiainenFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePhysique athletes engage in rigorous competition preparation involving intense energy restriction and physical training to enhance muscle definition. This study investigates hormonal changes and their physiological and performance impacts during such preparation.

methodsParticipants included female (10 competing (COMP) and 10 non-dieting controls (CTRL)) and male (13 COMP and 10 CTRL) physique athletes. COMP participants were tested 23 weeks before (PRE), one week before (MID), and 23 weeks after the competition (POST). Non-dieting CTRL participants were tested at similar intervals. Measurements included body composition (DXA), muscle cross-sectional area (ultrasound), energy availability (EA) derived by subtracting exercise energy expenditure (EEE) from energy intake (EI) and dividing by fat-free mass (FFM), muscle strength, and various serum hormone concentrations (ACTH, cortisol, estradiol, FSH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, insulin, and free and total testosterone and SHBG).

resultsDuring the diet, EA (p < 0.001), IGF-1 (p < 0.001), IGFBP-3 (p < 0.01), and absolute muscle strength (p < 0.01-0.001) decreased significantly in both sexes in COMP. Decreases in IGF-1 were also associated with higher loss in FFM. In males, testosterone (p < 0.01) and free testosterone (p < 0.05) decreased, while SHBG (p < 0.001) and cortisol (p < 0.05) increased. Insulin decreased significantly only in males (p < 0.001). Mood disturbances, particularly increased fatigue in males (p < 0.05), highlighted the psychological strain of competition preparation. All these changes were restored by increased EA during the post-competition recovery period.

conclusionSignificant reductions in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 during competition preparation may serve as biomarkers for monitoring physiological stress. This study offers valuable insights into hormonal changes, muscle strength, and mood state during energy-restricted intense training.

Indexed as

AthletesHormonesAdultAthletic PerformanceBody CompositionCompetitive BehaviorEnergy MetabolismFemaleHumansInsulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3Insulin-Like Growth Factor IMaleMuscle, SkeletalMuscle StrengthTestosteroneYoung AdultHormonesIGF1 protein, humanInsulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3Insulin-Like Growth Factor ITestosteroneBodybuildingEnergy availabilityIGF-1POMSREDsWeight loss

Identifiers

PMID39261323
PMCPMC11829922

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.