A short-term arm-crank exercise program improved testosterone deficiency in adults with chronic spinal cord injury

Purpose To determine the influence of arm-crank exercise in reproductive hormone levels in adults with chronic SCI. Further objectives were to assess the influence of arm-crank exercise on muscle strength and body composition. Materials and Methods Seventeen male adults with complete SCI at or below the 5th thoracic level (T5) volunteered for this study. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 9) or control group (n = 8) using a concealed method. The participants in the intervention group performed a 12-week arm-crank exercise program, 3 sessions/week, consisting of warming-up (10-15 min) followed by a main part in arm-crank (20-30 min [increasing 2 min and 30 seconds each three weeks]) at a moderate work intensity of 50-65% of heart rate reserve (HRR) (starting at 50% and increasing 5% each three weeks) and by a cooling-down period (5-10 min). Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and estradiol were determined by ELISA. Muscle strength (handgrip) and body composition (waist circumference [WC]) were assessed. Results After the completion of the training program, testosterone level was significantly increased (p = 0.0166;d = 1.14). Furthermore, maximal handgrip and WC were significantly improved. Lastly, a significant inverse correlation was found between WC and testosterone (r =- 0.35; p = 0.0377). Conclusion The arm-crank exercise improved reproductive hormone profile by increasing testosterone levels in adults with chronic SCI. A secondary finding was that it also significantly improved muscle strength and body composition in this group. .

Asociación entre obesidad abdominal y daño oxidativo seminal en pacientes con síndrome metabólico / Association between abdominal obesity and seminal oxidative damage in adults with metabolic syndrome

Abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome (MS) and oxidative stress may impair seminal quality leading to derangements in fertility. Aim: To identify an association between abdominal obesity and markers of seminal oxidative damage in adults with MS. Material and Methods: Seventy males aged 25 to 40 years, with MS according to ATP-III criteria volunteered for this cross-sectional study. The control group included 70 healthy and normal weight adults. Semen analysis included volume, sperm concentration, motility and normal morphologic features. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured, fat mass was determined by bioelectrical impedance. Results: Sperm concentration and the percentage of sperms with normal motility and morphology were significantly lower in adults with MS, when compared to their healthy normal weight counterparts. Seminal levels of malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine were significantly higher among participants with MS. Significant correlations were found between WC and seminal markers of oxidative stress. Conclusions: Individuals with MS had an impaired seminal quality that may be explained, at least in part, by increased seminal oxidative damage.