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  Discussion on Research Summary: Hormonal Basis for Training Let-Down?
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DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 - 8:48 am:

Training "let down" is a common phenomena in race horses and probably seen in other equine endeavors as well. Let down is seen as decreasing performance, appetite, and weight loss for no identifiable reason. Gastric ulcers should always be ruled out with this history and constellation of symptoms.

This condition appears in humans as well who report depression as the main symptom and has been associated with hormonal changes. Using already completed research this paper looks at this possibility in horses and finds further research into this possibility is indicated.
DrO

Vet Q. 2007 Sep;29(3):82-101.
Hormonal responses to acute exercise, training and overtraining. A review with emphasis on the horse.

de Graaf-Roelfsema E, Keizer HA, van Breda E, Wijnberg ID, van Der Kolk JH.

Department of Equine Sciences, Medicine Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. e.roelfsema@uu.nl

Overtraining is an imbalance between training and recovery leading to symptoms associated with a neuroendocrine dysbalance called the overtraining synDrOme, a disease characterized by behavioral, emotional and physical symptoms similar with depression. Although the prevalence of overtraining is high in human and equine athletes, at present no sensitive and specific test is available to prevent or diagnose overtraining. Nowadays, it is believed that combination of different (hormonal) parameters appear to be the best indicators of overtraining. Therefore, this review provides a summary of previous literature examining the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-I (GH-IGF-I) axis to acute and chronic exercise as well as overtraining in humans and horses. The exercise induced hormonal responses seem to be equal for the equine as well as the human athlete, which makes comparisons possible. Repeated bouts of exercise are suggested to provide a way to detect subtle changes in hormonal responses in the individual athlete, which may make them an important tool in detecting early overtraining. This should be combined with corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation tests and basal ACTH and GH pulsatility determination. Further research is needed to establish the correct training intensity and rest period for the exercise test in equines.
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