Overtraining (OT) is a complex and multifactorial sport phenomenon, and there is no independent marker that can diagnose OT. Interestingly, some symptoms of OT are related to b-endorphin (b-end1-31) effects. Some of its effects, such as analgesia, increasing lactate tolerance, and exercise-induced euphoria, are important for training. These effects can be reverted by detraining or OT, which may cause decrease in performance, reduced load tolerance, and depression. The main stimulus for b-end1-31 secretion is to exercise because its secretion is volume/intensity dependent for both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Excess training, however, may reduce b-end1-31 concentrations, thus altering its beneficial effects. Therefore, b-end1-31 could be used as an additional OT marker, mainly because its effects are strongly related to OT symptoms.
beta-endorfina; Exercise; Training; Overtraining