The GH-IGF-I Response to Typical Field Sports Practices in Adolescent Athletes: A Summary

The present study compares previous reports on the effect of "real-life" typical field individual (ie, cross-country running and wrestling-representing combat versus noncombat sports) and team sports (ie, volleyball and water polo-representing water and land team sports) training on GH and IGF-1, the main growth factors of the GH -> IGF axis, in male and female late pubertal athletes. Cross-country running practice and volleyball practice in both males and females were associated with significant increases of circulating GH levels, while none of the practices led to a significant increase in IGF-I levels. The magnitude (percent change) of the GH response to the different practices was determined mainly by preexercise GH levels. There was no difference in the training-associated GH response between individual and team sports practices. The GH response to the different typical practices was not influenced by the practice-associated lactate change. Further studies are needed to better understand the effect of real-life typical training in prepubertal and adolescent athletes and their role in exercise adaptations.