Effect of short-term physical exercise on serum total testosterone levels in young adults

Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2014 Apr-Jun;58(2):178-81.

Abstract

The effect of short term (12 weeks) physical exercise on serum total testosterone level was evaluated in 30 young male adults, aged 18-27 years (mean age 21.67±2.26 years). These medical students, having sedentary life style underwent heavy exercise by attaining heart rate 125-150 beats/min on bicycle ergometer for 15 min on alternate day basis amounted to 670 kilopond metre per minute work done and percentage of VO2max was 71±3. Pre-exercise serum total testosterone levels (5.49±1.31) of students were compared with those obtained after 1 week and 12 weeks of initiation of exercise. The serum total testosterone was measured by DRG Testosterone ELISA kit. After 1 week of exercise, a statistically insignificant decrease (5.488±1.32; P>0.05) was found while after 12 weeks of exercise, a statistically significant increase (6.41±2.28 P<0.05) was noticed between the pre-and post-exercise serum total testosterone levels. We conclude that short-term exercise produces an elevation in serum testosterone levels in young adults.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Exercise Test
  • Exercise*
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Sedentary Behavior
  • Students, Medical
  • Testosterone / blood*
  • Time Factors
  • Up-Regulation
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Testosterone