Visceral Adipose Tissue and Cortisol in Female Endurance Runners
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Date
2021-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and cortisol is a controversial area of research interest. The purpose of this study is to explore this relationship over a training year in an athletic cohort of female endurance runners.
METHODS: Female distance runners (juniors, seniors, or red-shirt seniors) from colleges and universities within a 90-minute drive from The Ohio State University and post-collegiate runners aged 20-26 years living in Columbus, OH who were actively training for a race (>35 miles per week) were eligible for study participation. Laboratory visits occurred three times throughout this longitudinal study. Dietary intake and physical activity questionnaires, an iDXA scan, and an optional blood draw were completed at each visit. Data was analyzed using SAS software (version 9.0) Proc Glimmix and SPSS 27 software. Significance was set at an apriori level of p < 0.05.
RESULTS: Eight participants were included in statistical analysis. The average participant was 22.5 years old, 162.56 cm tall, weighed 54.58 kg, and had a BMI of 20.70. No statistically significant relationship was observed between VAT and cortisol (p = 0.4779), nor did training mileage, dietary fueling, or energy availability reach statistical significance as potential covariates.
CONCLUSION: No statistically significant relationship exists between VAT and serum cortisol over a one-year training period in this cohort of female endurance runners.
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Keywords
Visceral Adipose Tissue, Cortisol, VAT, Endurance Runners