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Original article
Four weeks’ corticosteroid inhalation does not augment maximal power output in endurance athletes
  1. H Kuipers1,
  2. G A C Van’t Hullenaar1,
  3. B M Pluim2,
  4. S E Overbeek3,
  5. O De Hon4,
  6. E J Van Breda1,
  7. L C Van Loon1
  1. 1
    Department of Movement Sciences, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht (NUTRIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  2. 2
    KNLTB (Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Federation), Amersfoort, The Netherlands
  3. 3
    Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Bronovo Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands
  4. 4
    Anti-Doping Authority the Netherlands, Capelle a/d IJssel, The Netherlands
  1. Harm Kuipers, FHML, Department of Movement Sciences, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; harm.kuipers{at}bw.unimaas.nl

Abstract

Objective: To assess possible ergogenic properties of corticosteroid administration.

Design: A balanced, double-blind, placebo-controlled design was used.

Participants: 28 well-trained cyclists and rowers.

Intervention: 4 weeks’ daily inhalation of 800 μg budesonide or placebo.

Main outcome measurements: The subjects performed three incremental cycle ergometer tests until exhaustion, before and after 2 and 4 weeks of placebo or budesonide administration, to measure maximal power output (Wmax). Once a week they filled in a profile of mood state (POMS) questionnaire.

Results: There was no significant difference in Wmax between the placebo (376 (SD 25) W) and the corticosteroid group (375 (36) W) during the preintervention test, and there were no significant changes in either group after 2 and 4 weeks of intervention. No effect of the intervention on mood state was found.

Conclusion: 4 weeks of corticosteroid or placebo inhalation in healthy, well-trained athletes did not affect maximal power output or mood state. Hence no ergogenic properties of 4 weeks’ corticosteroid administration could be demonstrated, which corroborates previous studies of short-term corticosteroid administration.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2007.042572

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    Footnotes

    • Funding: This study was supported by a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). VWS, Parnassusplein 5, 2511 VX Den Haag, The Netherlands.

    • Competing interests: None.