Jurimae, J., Maestu, J., & Jurimae, T. (2003). Effect on intense training and following tapering on leptin and stress hormones in rowers. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(5), Supplement abstract 204.

Male national rowers (N = 10) underwent three-weeks of increasing maximal training stress followed by a two-week taper. Maximum 2000-m ergometer performance was assessed at various stages of the study.

Increased training stress (22%) caused leptin (-8%) and testosterone (9%) to change. A further stress increase of 25% produced leptin to decrease further by 35% however, testosterone did not change. Growth hormone only increased after the first week of training. In the first week of taper (50% reduction in training stress), leptin responded with a 29% increase. After the second week of taper, testosterone and growth hormone had returned to pretraining levels. Leptin increased a further 4%. Cortisol and performance remained consistent throughout the stress and taper stages.

Implication. Leptin responses to exercise are sensitive to levels of training stress in male rowers.

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