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Physical activity exerts an important influence on the endocrine system, modulating synthesis and secretion of several hormones. Almost every organ and system in the body is affected by physical activity and exercise, mainly through the endocrine and neuroendocrine system. Mode, intensity, and duration of the exercise bout, age, gender and fitness level of the individual as well as environmental and psychological factors may affect the endocrine response to physical activity.

On the other hand, several hormones are able to influence physical performance and body composition. Thus, a bi-univocal interrelationship between exercise and hormones exists.

In this book new developments on metabolic and endocrine response to exercise are revised and introduce the "hot topic" of hormonal doping in sports. In the past decades, hormone abuse has become a widespread habit among professional and - most of all and more frequently - recreational athletes. A substantial part of this volume is devoted to the effects of exogenous hormones on performance. Anabolic steroids, growth hormone and erythropoietin properties, use and misuse in sports are widely described. Specific methods to detect hormone abuse are presented and discussed.

The contributors to this volume are well-known experts and dedicated researchers in the fields of sports medicine and endocrinology, endocrine physiology, pharmacology, and doping detection.

The purpose of this volume is to provide all professionals involved in sports medicine and endocrinology a state-of-the-art overview of the complex interactions between physical activity and the endocrine system and to focus on hormone abuse in sports at competitive and recreational level highlighting its negative consequences for long-term health.

Hormone Use and Abuse by Athletes

GH/IGF-I Axis In Exercise.- Exercise, Training and the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis.- Thyroid Axis, Prolactin and Exercise.- Exercise, Training and the Hypothalmic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Men.- Exercise and the Reproductive System in Women.- Physical Exercise, Sports and Diabetes.- Motor Performance and Muscle Mass as Function of the Hormonal Responses to Exercise.- Sports, Hormones and Doping in Children and Adolescents.- Androgen Abuse.- Growth Hormone.- Erythropoietin.- Amino Acids and Non-Hormonal Compounds for Doping in Athletes.- The Assay of Endogenous and Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids.- Problems With Growth Hormone Doping In Sports: Isoform Methods.- Detection of Growth Hormone Doping In Sport Using Growth Hormone-Responsive Markers.- Distinction Between Endogenous and Exogenous Erythropoietin: Marker Methods.- Direct Methods For Distinction Between Endogenous and Exogenous Erythropoietin