Thyroid hormone levels during a 3-week professional road cycling competition
Aims: The aim of this investigation was to examine the thyroid hormone levels of professional cyclists during a 3-week stage competition (Vuelta a Espana 1998).
Methods: The study population was made up of 16 male cyclists from two world-leading professional teams. Four blood samples were drawn (between 07:00 and 09:00 a.m.) from each participant before and at the end of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks of competition. 3,5,3'(-Triiodothyronine (T(3)), free T(3) (FT(3)), thyroxine (T(4)), free T(4) (FT(4)) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined in each blood sample by radioimmunoassay.
Results: Serum T(4), FT(4) and FT(3) levels showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) by the last week of competition while concentrations of TSH and T(3) remained unchanged.
Conclusion: In conclusion, 3 weeks of competition provokes changes in basal thyroid hormone concentrations in professional road cyclists.
© Copyright 2001 Hormone Research. Karger. All rights reserved.
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| Notations: | endurance sports biological and medical sciences |
| Published in: | Hormone Research |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2001
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| Online Access: | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11910201&dopt=Abstract |
| Volume: | 56 |
| Issue: | 5-6 |
| Pages: | 159-164 |
| Document types: | article |
| Level: | advanced |