Effect of Eight Weeks of Resistance Exercise on Adaptive Responses of Cortisol and Androgens in Postmenopausal Women

Decreased anabolic to catabolic ratio during menopause, can lead to a reduction in muscle size and strength. Hence, the current study amed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of resistance exercise on adaptive responses of cortisol and androgens in postmenopausal women.
In this semi-experimental study, 16 healthy postmenopausal women with the age range of 48 to 62 years and a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2 were selected (via paposeful and convenience sampling) who participated in an eight-week program of circular shape resistance training (8 stations, 3 sets with 12 repeatation with intensity of 65-40% of one repetition maximum). Serum levels of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol were measured 48 hours before and after the intervention. The study data were analyzed by paired student’s t-test at a significance level of P The study results following resistance training, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels (58%, P=0.000), testosterone (71%, P=0.017), testosterone to cortisol ratio (125%, P=0.016) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to cortisol ratio (61%, P=0.002) significantly increased. Although the amount of post-test cortisol levels was decreased, this change was not held to be significant (P=0.459).
Eight weeks of resistance training leads to a significant increase in levels of androgens as well as androgens to cortisol ratio. Therefore, resistance training by increasing the ratio of anabolic to catabolic hormones can prevente muscle size and strength, and aid to wellbeing and health of postmenopausal women.