Al. Hirschberg et al., REDUCED MEAL RELATED GASTROINTESTINAL HORMONE RESPONSE TO ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE STIMULATION TEST IN FEMALE ATHLETES, Gynecological endocrinology, 11(2), 1997, pp. 83-89
This study was undertaken to elucidate the impact of hypercortisolism
in meal-related gastrointestinal hormone secretion and appetite in fem
ale endurance athletes. Thirteen elite runners and seven sedentary wom
en participated on two occasions, either receiving intravenous injecti
on of 250 mu g synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) 1-24 or sa
line. Blood samples were collected before and after tile injection, an
d then in connection with a standardized meal. Serum concentrations of
cortisol, cholecystokinin (CCK), gastrin, insulin and glucose were an
alyzed. Self-ratings of appetite were assessed by visual analog scales
. Elevated basal levels of cortisol and glucose were found in the athl
etes. ACTH-induced cortisol response was comparable between groups, bu
t a negative correlation between basal cortisol levels and the ACTH-in
duced response was found. In sedentary women, ACTH challenge enhanced
meal-related CCK and gastrin responses, whereas athletes showed a blun
ted response of these hormones combined with decreased satiety and red
uced levels of insulin. Blunted meal-related response of gastrointesti
nal hormones and decreased satiety in female runners after ACTH stimul
ation compared to sedentary women are probably due to differences in t
he effect of cortisol, which could be explained by cortisol insensitiv
ity as a result of basal hypercortisolism in the athletes. Decreased C
CK response and satiety in female athletes may reflect increased nutri
tional requirements.