Urine steroid profile of judo competitors affected by acute physical exercises.

A heterogeneous group of 10 male and 15 female judo players are utilized in this study. The subjects complete a standardized maximal treadmill exercise test. Urine samples are collected at the pre- and postexercise stages. The urine steroids are measured using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry instrument. In rest and after exercise, significantly higher testosterone and epitestosterone concentrations in males (p < 0.01) are found. The etiocholanolone-dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) ratio is significantly lower in males than females (p < 0.05). In both males and females, etiocholanolone concentration significantly decreases with the effect of exercise (p < 0.05). 11-OH etiocholanolone concentration also significantly decreases, but only in females (p < 0.05). Positive correlation is found between the changes of the etiocholanolone and epitestosterone concentration caused by exercise.