THE COMBINED EFFECT OF ALCOHOL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON SERUM TESTOSTERONE, LUTEINIZING-HORMONE, AND CORTISOL IN MALES

The combined effect of alcohol and physical exercise on the serum leve ls of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and cortisol was studied in h ealthy male volunteers by performing an exhaustive ergometer exercise (1) followed by alcohol intoxication (induced by 1.5 g of alcohol/kg b ody weight), (2) during alcohol intoxication (induced by 0.8 g of alco hol/kg body weight), and (3) during hangover (13 hr after a dose of 1. 5 g of alcohol/kg body weight). Physical stress immediately before alc ohol administration prolonged the depressant effect of alcohol on test osterone secretion. This seemed to be mainly a consequence of direct i nhibition at the testicular level, even though the role of luteinizing hormone as a contributory regulatory factor cannot be totally ruled o ut. Cortisol response to exercise was not modified by alcohol under an y of the experimental conditions.