PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - H Kuipers
AU  - G A C Van’t Hullenaar
AU  - B M Pluim
AU  - S E Overbeek
AU  - O De Hon
AU  - E J Van Breda
AU  - L C Van Loon
TI  - Four weeks’ corticosteroid inhalation does not augment maximal power output in endurance athletes
AID  - 10.1136/bjsm.2007.042572
DP  - 2008 Nov 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 868--871
VI  - 42
IP  - 11
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/42/11/868.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/42/11/868.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2008 Nov 01; 42
AB  - 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.