ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Descriptive & Survey Study

Authors

Dezhan   M. (1 )
Shakeri   N. (*)
Abed Natanzy   H. (1)






(*) Exercise Physiology Department, Human Sciences Faculty, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
(1 ) Exercise Physiology Department, Human Sciences Faculty, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Correspondence

Address: Faculty of Human Sciences, Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hisarak Square, Poonak, Tehran, Iran
Phone: +98 (21) 44865179
Fax: +98 (21) 44865179
nsprofsport@gmail.com

Article History

Received:  July  24, 2016
Accepted:  February 27, 2017
ePublished:  July 22, 2017

BRIEF TEXT


Sport activity requires the regulation and coordination of many physiological and biochemical parts, in which the endocrine system plays an important role in the integrity and control of vital functions as well as vital stability or balance of the body during exercise [1].

… [2-10]. All of these seem to depend on changes in various hormones, such as anabolic or catabolic hormone. Although the changes in the secretion of anabolic and catabolic hormones resulting from the Tai Chi endurance exercise depends on variety of factors, including the length of the rest period, severity, volume, type of contraction, velocity, and duration [11, 12], there are no clear results about what the effect of exercises are on the proportion of testosterone and cortisol hormones. However, existing research evidence suggest that aerobic or endurance exercise (according to Tai Cheng aerobics) can affect the total amount and ratio of these hormones [13-17].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of women's history of Tai Chi on testosterone, cortisol, and testosterone / cortisol ratio levels.

The present study is semi-experimental and cross-sectional.

This study was conducted in Tai Chi women's clubs (named Zeytoon, Ofogh, Nasibeh, Gholhak, Masjed Ol Nabi, and Parsian) in 2015 in Tehran.

42 participants were selected and studied purposefully.

Subjects were divided into three groups of 14 subjects: the first (6-12 months), the second (30-42 months) and the third (52 to 64 months). From all three groups, after 12 hours of fasting overnight, in equal conditions in terms of time, location, light and moisture in the laboratory, and by experienced expert, 5cc blood sample was taken from the right hand brachial vein in the sitting position to study the amount of cortisol, testosterone, and cortisol/testosterone ratio. Cortisol concentration (IBL International; Germany) and serum testosterone (Diaplus, United States) were determined by intra ECI using Kit Eliza. All of the cortisol and testosterone hormone levels were measured in Shahid Beheshti University Endocrine & Metabolism Research Laboratory. Statistical analysis: All analyses were performed using SPSS 19 software. First, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to check the normal distribution of data. Due to lack of normal distribution of testosterone in the three groups, nonparametric Kruskalvalis test was sued to compare testosterone values between the three groups. However, due to normal distribution of cortisol and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol, one-way ANOVA and Scheffe post hoc test were used to determine the difference between these three variables.

Anthropometric properties of the studied groups are shown in Table 1. The mean values of serum testosterone hormones (p=0.092), cortisol (p=0.302), and testosterone/cortisol ratio (p=0.897), was not significantly different among the three groups. Also, the third group had the lowest level of testosterone and cortisol and the highest ratio of testosterone to cortisol, which was not statistically significant (figures 1, 2 and 3).

Although there was no consistent and inconsistent research in relation to Tai Chi athletes and cortisol level, the findings of Lee et al in hypertensive patients showed that 6-week Tai Chi training did not have any significant effect on cortisol serum [30]. Other studies have also reported a slight change in the amount of cortisol due to aerobic exercise in women [23, 31, and 32]. Cortisol is a stress hormone that its increased level may also be an indicator of overtraining [33]. Although Hooper et al. did not report changes in cortisol levels after 6 months of swimming in women even in those with overtraining symptoms [34], Togelman et al. found contradictory findings that athlete women have more cortisol serum compared with control group [27].

It is suggested that in the next research, the control of estrogen and progesterone hormones be considered by the researchers.

One of the limitations in this study was the lack of control of estrogen and progesterone hormones that could affect this study.

Tai Chi Women's Exercise Experience has no significant effect on the serum testosterone and cortisol hormone levels and their ratio.

The authors of this article express their thanks and gratitude to Tai Chi coaches and trainers as well as women participated in this research.

Non-declared

This article has been approved by IR.IAU.SRB.REC.1395.32 at the Ethics in Research Committee of Islamic Azad University. .

This article is the result of a dissertation titled ‘Investigating the Impact of Different Times of Participation in Tai Chi Exercises on the testosterone/cortisol ratio’ in MA level in 2015 that was funded by Islamic Azad University, Tehran Research and Science Branch.

TABLES and CHARTS

Show attach file


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