Rigorous bicycling does not increase serum levels of total and free prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the free/total PSA ratio, gonadotropin levels, or uroflowmetric parameters.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether cycling has an effect on serum PSA, gonadotropins, and uroflowmetric parameters.

METHODS

A total of 34 healthy male athletes from the National Cycling Team and 24 healthy male student volunteers from University and medical staff were prospectively enrolled in the study. Blood samples for serum total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA, fPSA/tPSA, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone determinations were obtained before and after cyclists completed 300 km bicycle ride and with each cyclist seated without changing posture and with minimal movement for 10 minutes before blood collection. The cyclists also performed uroflowmetric and postvoid residual urine volume analysis before, and 1 hour after cycling course. Blood samples from the control group were drawn for serum hormones. They also underwent uroflowmetric and postvoid residual analysis.

RESULTS

The athletes and the control group were well matched by age. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of serum tPSA, fPSA, f/t PSA values, FSH, LH, and testosterone levels and uroflowmetric parameters (P >.05). The differences between pre- and postcycling values for tPSA, fPSA, f/t PSA, FSH, LH, and uroflowmetric parameters were not statistically significant. The postcycling serum testosterone level was significantly lower than precycling levels (mean, 603.6 ng/dL [range, 300-949] vs 424.8 ng/dL [range, 193-723], P = .001]. There was no correlation between body mass index values, postcycling serum FSH, LH levels, age, and testosterone levels.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no effect of professional bicycle riding on serum total and fPSA levels and uroflowmetric parameters.