Abstract

Some hormonal variations in blood and urine of 14 male athletes (aged from 23 to 47) taking part in the <Marcialonga>, a long distance (70 km) ski race which takes place in Trentino (Italy), have been studied. The samples were tak en on the day before the competition, immediately after, the next morning and seven days after. All the athletes had 200-400 km training. Tyroid hormonal parameters (t3-T4-TSH-T3UP and rTs), insulin-anti-insulin parameters (insulin, cortisol, 17-OH, catecholamines and VMA) and androgens, (testosterone and 17-KS) were investigated by means of RIA, fluorimetric and colorimetric methods. There was an increase of the adrenomedullary and cortical activity, a decrease of testosterone immediately after the competition and the presence of a low-T3 syndrome. The low-T3 syndrome is to be considered, in our opinion, an expression of the deviation of the T4 peripheral metabolism to a non cathabolic/non calorigenic metabolit production (rT3) in order to save muscolar proteins. Verf.-Referat