The effects of eight weeks of swimming training and chamomile extract administration on serum levels of sex hormones in rats

Nutrition and exercise are two effective factors in regulating the body's endocrine system. Due to the positive effects of sports activities and herbs on sex hormones, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eight weeks of swimming training and chamomile extract consumption on serum levels of Luteinizing, Testosterone, and Follicle-Stimulating Hormones in male rats.

in this experimental study, 40 male Sprague-dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into five groups consisting of eight rats. The groups include: (1) swimming training, (2) chamomile extract administration, (3) swimming training, and chamomile extract administration; (4) placebo; and (5) control. The swimming and the swimming plus chamomile extract administration groups had three session swimming trainings per week, each session lasted 60 seconds. Also, the swimming plus chamomile extract administration and the chamomile extract administration groups received (200 mg/kg body weight/day) chamomile extract peritoneally. Kolmogorov–Smirnov and one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s Post-hoc tests were used to analyze the results (P≤0.05).

chamomile extract administration had significant effects on increasing testosterone levels (P=0.04). However, the effects of swimming training (P=0.79) and swimming plus chamomile extract administration (P=0.09) on testosterone levels were non-significant. Swimming training plus chamomile extract administration had significant effects on increasing serum levels of FSH (P=0.001), but only swimming training (P=0.89) and only chamomile extract administration (P=0.46) had no significant effects on serum levels of FSH. Also, none of the swimming training, chamomile extract administration, and swimming training plus chamomile extract administration had significant effects on LH serum levels.

although chamomile extract administration alone can increase testosterone serum levels, and simultaneously can improve FSH serum levels when used with swimming training, it seems that further study is required to confirm the interactive effects of chamomile consumption and swimming training.