Endocrine responses to low‐load blood flow restricted and high‐load resistance exercise in well‐trained males
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: The present study compared acute testosterone (T), cortisol (C), epinephrine (EPI), norepinephrine (NE), and 22 kDa growth hormone (GH‐22 kDa) responses following low‐load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (LL‐BFR) and traditional high‐load resistance exercise (HL‐RE). Twelve resistance‐trained men performed bouts of LL‐BFR (30%1RM) and HL‐RE (70%1RM), each consisting of four sets of bilateral seated leg extensions taken to momentary task failure with 60 s rest periods. A randomized crossover design was used with time of day matched within‐subjects. Upon arrival between 1200 and 1800, 24 h dietary recalls were performed with post‐exercise blood samples obtained within 60 s (IP) and 5 min post‐exercise (+5 min) via intravenous cannulation. Greater total repetitions (d = 2.37, p < 0.001) and less volume‐load (d = 2.86, p < 0.001) were performed during LL‐BFR. No Condition × Time interaction effects were found for any hormonal analyte measured (p > 0.05). Both LL‐BFR and HL‐RE elevate the potent β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) agonist EPI (IP: 1.29 ± 0.44 and 1.35 ± 0.60 nmol·L−1, respectively), and the androgenic steroid T (+5 min: 27.4 ± 12.9 and 29.0 ± 14.3 nmol·L−1, respectively). Thus, acute skeletal muscle β2AR phosphorylation may be comparable between conditions. When lower resistance exercise intensities (e.g., 30% 1RM) are desired, athletes may perform LL‐BFR in place of HL‐RE and experience no statistical difference in acute endocrine responses.
Source: Physiological Reports
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.70455
Authors: Drake A. Eserhaut, Joseph M. DeLeo, Jessica A. Provost, Andrew C. Fry
Institutions: University of Kansas, Boston Children's Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,050
OpenAlex ID: W4412114657