Serum steroid hormone responses to acute resistance exercise

[Objective] The aim of this investigation was to evaluate serum steroid hormone responses to acute resistance exercise. [Methods] Subjects were young healthy males (n=6) and females (n= 6). Each group performed three sets of 10 leg press and 10 bench press exercises at an intensity of their individual 10-repetition maximum (10RM), with 1 min rest between sets. Blood samples were collected before (Pre-Ex) and immediately following the exercise (P 0), 30 min (P 30), 60 min (P 60), and 24 hours (P 24 h) after the exercise. Levels of blood lactate, serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and cortisol were determined. [Results] The levels of blood lactate in males and females significantly increased at P 0 and P 30 compared with Pre-Ex (p<0.05). In males, the serum level of testosterone significantly increased at P 0 (p<0.05), whereas in females, it significantly decreased at P 0, P 30, P 60, P 24 h. (p<0.05). The level of DHEAS significantly increased at P 0 in both males and females (p<0.05). [Conclusion] The change in the level of testosterone was different between males and females, but that of DHEAS showed a similar pattern for both sexes. The data suggest that DHEAS could be a useful indicator for evaluating the anabolic status of acute resistance exercise in females.