The interaction of interval training and whey protein on the ratio of testosterone to cortisol

Subject Areas : Biochemistry and Sport Nutrition

Zia Abdullah Karim Al-Shammari ¹ , Abdul Ali Banaeifar ² , Ardeshir Zafari ³ , Sajad Arshadi ⁴

1 - Master of Sports Physiology, Ministry of Education and Development, Baghdad, Iraq.
2 - Associate Professor, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Department of Exercise Physiology, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology, Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Art, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran.
4 - Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology , South Tehran Branch , Islamic Azad university, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2024-02-14 Accepted : 2024-03-16 Published : 2024-05-06

Keywords: Interval training, Whey protein, Metabolism, Testosterone, Cortisol,

Abstract :

The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of 8 weeks of interval training combined with whey protein consumption on the serum levels of testosterone, cortisol and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol in young non-athletes. In this semi-experimental study, 48 young non-athletes between the ages of 18 and 24 were randomly divided into four groups of 12: control group (no intervention); supplement (whey protein); Interval training and combined group (interval training + whey protein) were included. After measuring the anthropometric indicators, the subjects in all 4 groups were present in the laboratory environment after 10 to 12 hours of overnight starvation (fasting) and after 15 minutes of rest, 5 cc of blood from the brachial vein between 7 o'clock and it was taken from them at 8 am. Blood sampling was taken to measure testosterone and cortisol and calculate the ratio of testosterone to cortisol (pre-test). Then the aforementioned interventions were performed on the studied groups for a period of 8 weeks. Finally, 48 hours after the last training session, blood sampling was done again (fasting) to measure dependent variables (post-test). Also, anthropometric indices were measured after the intervention in all groups. Data analysis by ANCOVA revealed that compared to the control group, interval training combined with whey protein consumption increased testosterone and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol and decreased cortisol in the combined group compared to the control group. Also, the implementation of aerobic exercises combined with the consumption of Selenium Plus improved the mentioned variables compared to the application of each of them alone. In a summary, based on the available findings, it is concluded that the implementation of interval training combined with the consumption of whey protein is associated with more anabolic effects than the application of each of them alone in non-athletic men. However, further understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the anabolic effect of interval training and whey protein requires further studies in this field.

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