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DEHYDRATED ATHLETES HAVE BLUNTED TESTOSTERONE RESPONSES TO EXERCISE |
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Written by Robbie Durand
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Tuesday, 27 January 2009 |
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Page 3 of 4
Breaking News: Dehydration Blunts Testosterone Responses to Exercise
Researchers from the University of Connecticut examined how hydration affects the anabolic hormone (testosterone and GH) to resistance exercise. Subjects were divided into three groups: hydrated, mildly dehydrated, and moderately dehydrated (the researchers wanted to mimic the dehydrated states of wrestlers cutting water to make weight.) The subjects then performed six sets of squats at 80% of a 1-RM. GH was not affected by dehydration, but mild dehydrated caused a reduced in testosterone response to exercise by 11% and 16% in the moderately dehydrated group. As previously reported, mild and moderate dehydration increased cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, the primary stress hormones. Thus dehydration blunted the anabolic response (testosterone) response to exercise and increase catabolic hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine)3. Who would have thought that even mild dehydration can blunt the testosterone response to resistance exercise.
Catecholamine’s do Not Increase Testosterone
Another interesting finding was the study disproved a long questioned hypothesis of whether catecholamine or adrenaline stimulated testosterone release. Previous researchers thought that high intensity exercise increases catecholamine’s but also testosterone4, 5. Researchers therefore hypothesized that catecholamine’s may increase testosterone. This study rejects the hypothesis that catecholamines increase testosterone because the subjects in the study that were dehydrated had an increase in catecholamine’s but a blunted testosterone response.
Hydration is more anabolic than most bodybuilders realize. If you following a high protein diet, taking Thermogenic supplements, or have to work outside; all of these cause for increased water intake. Remember, relying on thirst is not a reliable indicator of hydration. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated, so consume water on a regular basis especially during exercise. Under resting conditions, dehydration is normally balanced and prevented by increases in thirst-driven drinking, which adequately stimulates fluid intake. During exercise, however, the human thirst mechanism may be insufficient. During exercise the enhanced thirst signal may not sufficient to promote fluid intake to maintain water balance, a phenomenon known as "voluntary dehydration"9. Several studies have reported that despite free access to fluids, exercising subjects voluntarily replace only 66–75% of their net water loss10. Carry around that water jug may be more anabolic than previously thought!
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Research and Review 
