Four months of combined and compound morning training improves testosterone/cortisol ratio, adiponectin and insulin resistance in male students

Abstract

© 2016, Springer-Verlag Italia. Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess whether combined and compound morning training (CCMT) can improve hormonal and metabolic profiles in healthy male students. Methods: Eighty-three male students were randomly put into two groups: experimental (n = 42) and control (n = 41). The experimental group participated in the selected (aerobic, balance, resistance and stretch) exercises with moderate intensity for 16 weeks, four sessions per week, a 40 min workout in the morning. Salivary testosterone and cortisol, serum adiponectin, insulin and lipid profile were determined in both groups before and after the intervention. Results: Four months of training caused an increase in testosterone (85 ± 9.4 vs. 93 ± 9.7 pg/ml), adiponectin (11.35 ± 2.00 vs. 12.86 ± 1.97 ng/ml) and testosterone/cortisol ratio (0.006 ± 0.003 vs. 0.009 ± 0.004), as well as a reduction in cortisol (16.3 ± 6.15 vs. 12.4 ± 4.85 ng/ml) and insulin resistance (2.15 ± 0.52 vs. 1.79 ± 0.34), for the experimental as compared to their baseline data (P value < 0.001). Furthermore, a moderate correlation between testosterone and adiponectin was revealed (r = 0.31, P value = 0.04). Conclusions: This new training strategy successfully and meaningfully improved hormonal and metabolic parameters. The research proposed that CCMT can promote anabolic pathways. Favourably, the programme could be considered as a testosterone enhancer and cortisol reducer simultaneously.