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When women work: Endocrine reactivity in women during everyday physical activity at high altitude
Author(s) -
Sarma Mallika S,
Gettler Lee T,
Childs Geoff,
Quinn Elizabeth A
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.23154
Subject(s) - testosterone (patch) , endocrine system , saliva , effects of high altitude on humans , altitude (triangle) , hormone , reactivity (psychology) , physiology , endocrinology , medicine , geometry , mathematics , alternative medicine , pathology , anatomy
Objectives This study explores the acute endocrine reactivity of testosterone and cortisol in women engaging in everyday physical activity in a high altitude environment. Methods Data were collected from 35 women living in the Himalayas, with women recruited from both high (>10 000 ft.) and low altitude villages (<10 000 ft.). Saliva samples were collected at 3 time points (pre‐activity, 30 and 60 minutes) and women wore the wGT3X‐BT Actigraph during an hour of everyday work to assess the relationship between high altitude, endocrine reactivity, and physical activity. Saliva samples were then analyzed for testosterone and cortisol. Results Women living at high altitude had lower cortisol and testosterone levels, after controlling for moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity, age, and sum of skinfolds. Conclusions Testosterone and cortisol increase allocation of energy to costly somatic tissues and the utilization of stored energy. Lower production of these hormones may be beneficial for heightened energetic demands at high altitude.