Glucocorticoids and physical performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
IntroductionThis systematic review with meta-analysis investigates the effect of glucocorticoids on maximal and submaximal performance in healthy subjects.MethodsWe searched for randomised controlled trials investigating the effect of glucocorticoids on physical performance in Web of Science, Scopus...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1108062/full |
| _version_ | 1797862046083055616 |
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| author | Amund Riiser Trine Stensrud Lars Bo Andersen |
| author_facet | Amund Riiser Trine Stensrud Lars Bo Andersen |
| author_sort | Amund Riiser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThis systematic review with meta-analysis investigates the effect of glucocorticoids on maximal and submaximal performance in healthy subjects.MethodsWe searched for randomised controlled trials investigating the effect of glucocorticoids on physical performance in Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, Embase and SportDiscus in March 2021. Risk of bias was assessed with the revised Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool (RoB2). Data from random effect models are presented as standardized difference in mean (SDM) with 95% confidence interval. We included 15 studies comprising 175 subjects.ResultsTwo studies had high risk of bias. Glucocorticoids had a small positive effect on maximal physical performance compared to placebo (SDM 0.300, 95% CI 0.080 to 0.520) and the SDM for the 13 included comparisons was not heterogeneous (I2 = 35%, p = 0.099). Meta regression found no difference in the effect of acute treatment vs. prolonged treatment or oral ingestion vs. inhalation (p > 0.124). In stratified analysis prolonged treatment (SDM 0.428, 95% CI 0.148 to 0.709) and oral ingestion (SDM 0.361, 95% CI 0.124 to 0.598) improved physical performance. Glucocorticoids improved aerobic performance (SDM 0.371, 95% CI 0.173 to 0.569) but not anaerobic performance (p = 0.135). Glucocorticoids did not change energy expenditure during submaximal performance (SDM 0.0.225 95% CI −0.771 to 0.112).DiscussionThis study indicates that glucocorticoids improves maximal performance and aerobic performance. Glucocorticoids did not affect the energy expenditure during submaximal performance. The conclusions are based on relatively few subjects leading to limited statistical power and uncertain estimates. Still, these results are consistent and should be of interest to WADA and anyone concerned about fair play.Systematic Review RegistrationOpen Science Framework 2021-04-29 (https://osf.io/fc29t/). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:12:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-93079aa928e64df88a6ee30695282810 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:12:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-93079aa928e64df88a6ee306952828102023-03-23T06:49:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672023-03-01510.3389/fspor.2023.11080621108062Glucocorticoids and physical performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsAmund Riiser0Trine Stensrud1Lars Bo Andersen2Faculty of Teacher Education, Art and Sport, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, NorwayDepartment of Sport Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, NorwayFaculty of Teacher Education, Art and Sport, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, NorwayIntroductionThis systematic review with meta-analysis investigates the effect of glucocorticoids on maximal and submaximal performance in healthy subjects.MethodsWe searched for randomised controlled trials investigating the effect of glucocorticoids on physical performance in Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, Embase and SportDiscus in March 2021. Risk of bias was assessed with the revised Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool (RoB2). Data from random effect models are presented as standardized difference in mean (SDM) with 95% confidence interval. We included 15 studies comprising 175 subjects.ResultsTwo studies had high risk of bias. Glucocorticoids had a small positive effect on maximal physical performance compared to placebo (SDM 0.300, 95% CI 0.080 to 0.520) and the SDM for the 13 included comparisons was not heterogeneous (I2 = 35%, p = 0.099). Meta regression found no difference in the effect of acute treatment vs. prolonged treatment or oral ingestion vs. inhalation (p > 0.124). In stratified analysis prolonged treatment (SDM 0.428, 95% CI 0.148 to 0.709) and oral ingestion (SDM 0.361, 95% CI 0.124 to 0.598) improved physical performance. Glucocorticoids improved aerobic performance (SDM 0.371, 95% CI 0.173 to 0.569) but not anaerobic performance (p = 0.135). Glucocorticoids did not change energy expenditure during submaximal performance (SDM 0.0.225 95% CI −0.771 to 0.112).DiscussionThis study indicates that glucocorticoids improves maximal performance and aerobic performance. Glucocorticoids did not affect the energy expenditure during submaximal performance. The conclusions are based on relatively few subjects leading to limited statistical power and uncertain estimates. Still, these results are consistent and should be of interest to WADA and anyone concerned about fair play.Systematic Review RegistrationOpen Science Framework 2021-04-29 (https://osf.io/fc29t/).https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1108062/fulldopingendurancestrengthsprintcorticosteroids |
| spellingShingle | Amund Riiser Trine Stensrud Lars Bo Andersen Glucocorticoids and physical performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Frontiers in Sports and Active Living doping endurance strength sprint corticosteroids |
| title | Glucocorticoids and physical performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_full | Glucocorticoids and physical performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_fullStr | Glucocorticoids and physical performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glucocorticoids and physical performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_short | Glucocorticoids and physical performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_sort | glucocorticoids and physical performance a systematic review with meta analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| topic | doping endurance strength sprint corticosteroids |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1108062/full |
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