Abstract

Objective: To assess possible ergogenic properties of corticosteroid administration.

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

Participants: Twenty-eight well-trained cyclists and rowers.

Intervention: Four 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 two and four 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±25 watt) and the corticosteroid group (375±36 watt) during the pre-intervention test, and there were no significant changes in either group after two and four weeks of intervention. No effect of the intervention on mood state was found.

Conclusion: Four 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 four weeks corticosteroid administration could be demonstrated, which corroborates previous studies with short-term corticosteroid administration.