Effect of GCs on exercise performance
| GC molecule (references) | Study place (L, F) | Gender (M, F) | Type of exercise | Route (INH, PO) | Mode (A, ST) | Dose and environment | PE effects |
| Budesonide | |||||||
| Kuipers et al 43 | L | M | VO2 max (maximal graded exercise) | INH | ST (4 weeks) | 800 µg/day | = (Watt) GC: 375±36 vs Pla: 376±25 |
| Hostrup et al 44 | L | M | 90% peak power output until exhaustion | INH | ST (2 weeks) | 1.6 mg/day + acute terbutaline | = (second) Post-GC: 214 vs pre-GC : 203 |
| Dexamethasone | |||||||
| Marquet et al 37 | L | M | VO2 max (maximal graded exercise) | PO | ST (4.5 days) | 1–3 mg/day | = (VO2 max) values not provided |
| Nordsborg et al 47 | L | M | Knee extensor exercise until exhaustion at several intensities | PO | ST (5 days) | 4 mg/day | High intensity = (second) GC: 106±10 vs Pla: 108±9 Low intensity: + (second) GC: 393±50 vs Pla: 294±41 |
| Casuso et al 46 | L F F | M | Knee extensor exercise until exhaustion 20 m shuttle run Yo-yo (maximal graded exercise) 30 m sprint test | PO | ST (5 days) | 4 mg/day |
+ (second) GC: 333±30 vs Pla: 264±21 + (minute) GC:16.1±2.9 vs Pla: 13.5±2.6 = (second) GC: 4.5±0.1 vs Pla :4.6±0.1 |
| Prednisolone | |||||||
| Arlettaz et al 41 | L | M | 80%–85% VO2 max until exhaustion | PO | A | 20 mg | = (minute) GC: 22.0±2.5 vs Pla: 21.5±2.9 |
| Arlettaz et al 42 | L | M | 70%–75% VO2 max until exhaustion | PO | A | 20 mg | = (minute) GC : 55.9±5.2 vs Pla: 48.8±2.9 |
| Arlettaz et al 38 | L | M | 70%–75% VO2 max until exhaustion | PO | ST (7 days) | 60 mg/day |
+ (minute) GC: 74.5±9.5 vs Pla: 46.1±3.3 |
| Collomp et al 40 | L | M | 70%–75% VO2 max until exhaustion | PO | ST (7 days) | 60 mg/day + 2 hours training/day |
+ (minute) GC:107.0±20.7 vs Pla: 64.0±9.1 |
| Tacey et al 49 | L | M | 4 × 4 min cycling bouts at 90%–95% peak heart rate | PO | A | 20 mg | - (kjoule) GC : 206 vs Pla: 217 (−5%) |
| Prednisone | |||||||
| Le Panse et al 39 | L | F | 70%–75% VO2 max until exhaustion | PO | ST (7 days) | 50 mg/day |
+ (minute)
GC: 66.4±8.4 vs Pla: 47.9±6.7 |
| Zorgati et al 48 | L | M | Hopping until exhaustion | PO | ST (7 days) | 60 mg/day |
+ (peak force), = (second) GC: 123.1±29.5 vs Pla: 119.9±24.7 |
Bold indicates there was a positive response in PE (performance enhancement) to emphasise the finding.
=, no change in performance.
+, significant performance improvement expressed in mean±sem.
A, acute; F, field; F, female; GC, glucocorticoid; INH, inhalation; L, laboratory; M, male; PE, performance enhancement; PO, oral; ST, short-term.