Interação entre os hormônios testosterona, cortisol e aspectos psicobiológicos no exercício físico: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Interaction between the hormones testosterone, cortisol and psychobiological aspects in physical exercise: an integrative review Introduction: The human body as a dynamic biological system is influenced by hormonal responses in physical exercise. Objective: Compiling studies through an integrative review about the interaction between biomarkers testosterone, cortisol, psychobiological aspects and physical exercise was the aim of this study. Methods: Initially studies published in English and Portuguese during the last 10 years (January 2005 to August 2015), accessing the MEDLINE database (National Library of Medicine) and SPORTDiscus. The terms searched were: Exercise OR Exercises OR "Physical Exercise" OR "Physical Exercises" AND Cortisol OR Testosterone OR Testosterone Cortisol Ratio. We identified 380 studies involving the hormones testosterone (T), cortisol (C) and physical exercise (PE). After the exclusion criteria were applied, 27 studies were part of the analyzes of this review, being: six articles that investigated T and E, five articles that analyzed C and E, and 16 articles that explored both hormones (T and C) and PE. Results and Discussion: The studies showed interventions performed between 1 week to 15 weeks involving a highly diverse spectrum of training and modalities, with continuous and intervals training and aerobic characteristic or incorporating resistance training with different intensities and frequencies. Conclusion: Monitoring of these biomarkers may allow for a broader and more precise knowledge of psychobiological responses in the regular practice of physical exercise in healthy individuals or athletes from different sports.