THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT RESISTANCE TRAINING VOLUMES ON STEROID HORMONE LEVELS IN POSTMENOPAUSAL FEMALES

1299 This study evaluated the effect of different resistance exercise volumes on steroid hormone levels in postmenopausal females. Five volunteer subjects were recruited that had been resistance training for a minimum of one year. Each subject completed three supervised sessions; one with one set of eight exercises at 10RM intensity, one with three sets of eight exercises at 10RM intensity, and one resting control session. The three sessions were randomized for order and performed at the same time of day (9:00 a.m.) under standardized conditions. Blood samples were taken before, immediately after, and one hour after each session. All samples were analyzed for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulphate, testosterone, and cortisol. DHEA, DHEA sulphate and testosterone increased immediately post-exercise, with the increase being greater in the three set vs. one set session, however these results failed to reach statistical significance. Cortisol significantly decreased over time in all sessions (p<.001) which is consistent with the diurnal variation of this hormone. This pilot project indicated that androgens respond similarly to resistance exercise in postmenopausal females as they do in young males, however a larger sample size may be required to show significance.