Calories & Hypogonadism

[Michael Scally MD]

Rossow LM, Fukuda DH, Fahs CA, Loenneke JP, Stout JR. Natural bodybuilding competition preparation and recovery: a 12-month case study. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2013;8(5):582-92. http://journals.humankinetics.com/ijspp-current-issue/ijspp-volume-8-issue-5-september/natural-bodybuilding-competition-preparation-and-recoverynbsp-a-12-month-case-study

Bodybuilding is a sport in which competitors are judged on muscular appearance. This case study tracked a drug-free male bodybuilder (age 26-27 y) for the 6 mo before and after a competition.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide the most comprehensive physiological profile of bodybuilding competition preparation and recovery ever compiled.

Methods: Cardiovascular parameters, body composition, strength, aerobic capacity, critical power, mood state, resting energy expenditure, and hormonal and other blood parameters were evaluated.

Results: Heart rate decreased from 53 to 27 beats/min during preparation and increased to 46 beats/min within 1 mo after competition. Brachial blood pressure dropped from 132/69 to 104/56 mmHg during preparation and returned to 116/64 mmHg at 6 mo after competition.

Percent body fat declined from 14.8% to 4.5% during preparation and returned to 14.6% during recovery. Strength decreased during preparation and did not fully recover during 6 months of recovery. Testosterone declined from 9.22 to 2.27 ng/mL during preparation and returned back to the baseline level, 9.91 ng/mL, after competition. Total mood disturbance increased from 6 to 43 units during preparation and recovered to 4 units 6 mo after competition.

Conclusions: This case study provides a thorough documentation of the physiological changes that occurred during natural bodybuilding competition and recovery.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Henning PC, Scofield DE, Spiering BA, et al. Recovery of Endocrine and Inflammatory Mediators Following an Extended Energy Deficit. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jc.2013-3046

Context: Given the current operational needs, elite soldiers deploy quickly after completing arduous training courses, thus it is imperative that endocrine and inflammatory mediators have recovered.

Objective: Determine whether a short-term (2-6 week) recovery period was sufficient to restore endocrine and inflammatory homeostasis following sustained energy deficit.

Design: Before and immediately after the course, serum concentrations of inflammatory and endocrine markers were taken along with anthropometric measures. Additionally, nine soldiers were assessed between 2-6 weeks after the course.

Setting: An intensive 8-wk military training course characterized by high energy expenditure, energy restriction, and sleep deprivation in a field setting (U.S. Army Ranger School).

Participants: 23 male Soldiers (23.0 +/- 2.8 y; 177.6 +/- 7.9 cm; 81.0 +/- 9.6 kg, 16.8 +/- 3.9% body fat) participated.

Interventions: No interventions were used.

Outcome Measures and Results: Significant changes occurred in circulating total testosterone (-70%), BDNF (-33%), total IGF-1 (-41%), free IGF-1 (-44%), IGFBP-6 (-22%), sex-hormone binding globulin (+46%), thyroid stimulating hormone (+85%), IGFBP-1 (+272%), IGFBP-2 (+98%), IGFBP-3 (+20%), IL-4 (+87%), IL-6 (+169%) and IL-8 (+56%). Significant changes in body mass (-8%), bicep (-14%), forearm (-5%), thigh (-7%), and calf (-2%) circumferences, sum of skinfolds (-58%) and percent body fat (-58%). All anthropometric, inflammatory and hormonal values, except T3, were restored to baseline levels within 2-6 weeks after the course.

Conclusions: Endocrine markers and anthropometric measures were degraded, and inflammatory mediators increased after an extended energy deficit. A short-term recovery of 2-6 weeks was sufficient to restore these mediators.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Karila TA, Sarkkinen P, Marttinen M, Seppala T, Mero A, Tallroth K. Rapid weight loss decreases serum testosterone. Int J Sports Med 2008;29(11):872-7. https://www.thieme-connect.com/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-2008-1038604

To investigate the effects of a rapid weight reduction program under authentic pre-competition conditions, eighteen elite wrestlers were studied with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) before and after two to three weeks' weight reduction regimens.

In order to establish the degree of dehydration and hormonal status, blood samples were collected to obtain blood chemistry, electrolytes and endocrinological parameters after both DXA measurements.

The mean weight loss was 8.2 +/- 2.3 % and it was constituted by the mean reductions of fat mass of 16 +/- 6.9 % (p < or = 0.001) and lean body mass of 7.9 +/- 2.5 %. The rapid weight reduction caused significant dehydration which was noticed as increased blood hemoglobin (7.8 +/- 5.9 %, p < or = 0.001), hematocrit (11.3 +/- 6.8 %, p < or = 0.001), and serum creatinine (35 +/- 23 %, p < or = 0.001).

There was a significant decrease in serum testosterone (63 +/- 33 %, p < or = 0.001) and luteinizing hormone (54 +/- 47 %, p < or = 0.001) concentrations. A reduced body weight correlated with decreased serum testosterone concentration (r = 0.53, p < or = 0.024). Serum sex hormone binding globulin concentration increased significantly (40 +/- 21 %, p < or = 0.001).

The results suggest that even short-term weight reduction may have marked effects on body composition, blood chemistry and hormonal parameters. It may constitute a possible health risk at least in a growing adolescent athlete.

 

[ApeShitFuckJacked]

This confirmed my suspicions as to the cause of change observed in the first post.

Thank you

Are there any studies that show an average TT of males with a sustained lower bf% say

14% compared to 6% over at least a 6 month period?

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Physiological Implications of Preparing for A Natural Male Bodybuilding Competition

This study aimed to describe the body composition and physiological changes which take place during the in-season and recovery periods of a group of natural bodybuilders. Natural male bodybuilders (n = 9) were assessed 16 (PRE16), 8 (PRE8), and 1 (PRE1) week(s) before, and 4 (POST4) weeks after a bodybuilding competition. Assessments included body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), serum hormones, and 7-day weighed food and training diaries. Change in parameters was assessed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Dietary protein intake remained high throughout the study period (2.8-3.1 g kg(-1) d(-1)). Fat mass (FM) was significantly reduced from PRE16 to PRE1 (8.8 +/- 3.1 vs. 5.3 +/- 2.4 kg, P < .01). There was a small decrease in lean mass (LM) from PRE8 to PRE1 (71.8 +/- 9.1 vs. 70.9 +/- 9.1 kg, P < .05). No changes in RMR were observed (P > .05).

Large reductions in total and free testosterone (16.4 +/- 4.4 vs. 10.1 +/- 3.6 nmol L(-1), P < .05; 229.3 +/- 72.4 vs. 116.8 +/- 76.9 pmol L(-1), P < .05), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (27.0 +/- 7.7 vs. 19.9 +/- 7.6 nmol L(-1), P < .05) occurred between PRE16 and PRE1. LM and IGF-1 increased from PRE1 to POST4 (70.9 +/- 9.1 vs. 72.5 +/- 8.5 kg, P < .05; 19.9 +/- 7.6 vs. 25.4 +/- 9.3 nmol L(-1), P < .05).

Despite substantial reductions in FM, participants maintained almost all of their LM. The reduction in anabolic hormone concentration is likely attributable to the prolonged negative energy balance, despite a high dietary protein intake.

Mitchell L, Slater G, Hackett D, Johnson N, O'Connor H. Physiological implications of preparing for a natural male bodybuilding competition. European journal of sport science 2018:1-11. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17461391.2018.1444095?journalCode=tejs20