The Claim

Endurance athletes with overtraining syndrome exhibit altered basal hormone levels, including a reduced testosterone-to-estradiol ratio, lower testosterone, elevated cortisol, and higher urinary catecholamines, compared to healthy athletes, suggesting that endocrine dysregulation may be involved in the pathophysiology of overtraining syndrome.

Source: Diagnosing Overtraining Syndrome: A Scoping Review

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
41score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Athletes who are overtrained might have messed-up hormone levels — like lower testosterone and higher stress hormones — which could explain why they feel so drained and don’t recover well.

See the scientific wording

Altered basal hormone levels, including reduced testosterone-to-estradiol ratio, lower testosterone, elevated cortisol, and higher urinary catecholamines, have been reported in endurance athletes with overtraining syndrome compared to healthy athletes, suggesting endocrine dysregulation may be involved in OTS pathophysiology.

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Diagnosing Overtraining Syndrome: A Scoping Review

    The study reviews many other studies and finds that hormonal changes like lower testosterone and higher stress hormones are commonly seen in overtrained athletes, which supports the idea that their bodies are out of balance.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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