Sports Performance and Endurance Plus

The enhanced athletic panel adding DHEA-S, cortisol, IGF-1, growth hormone, and insulin to the standard sports performance screen. Cortisol-to-testosterone ratio is a key marker of overtraining syndrome. IGF-1 and growth hormone reflect recovery capacity and anabolic status, while insulin provides insight into metabolic efficiency during training.

This enhanced athletic panel adds adrenal hormones, growth factors, and insulin to the standard sports performance screen — capturing the hormonal and metabolic systems most affected by training load, recovery, and nutritional status. It is the most comprehensive performance-focused panel available from Blood Test Perth. The cortisol-to-testosterone ratio is widely used in sports science as a marker of the anabolic-catabolic balance. When cortisol is chronically elevated relative to testosterone, the body is in a predominantly catabolic state — breaking down tissue faster than it can rebuild. This pattern is characteristic of overtraining syndrome and may persist for weeks or months if not addressed. DHEA-S provides additional insight into adrenal function, as it is the most abundant circulating steroid hormone and serves as a precursor to both testosterone and oestrogen. IGF-1 and growth hormone are critical for tissue repair, muscle recovery, and adaptation to training stimulus. IGF-1 mediates most of growth hormone's effects and is a more stable marker for testing purposes. Low IGF-1 may indicate insufficient recovery, inadequate protein intake, or poor sleep quality — all of which directly affect training outcomes. Growth hormone itself is included for completeness, though its pulsatile release means a single measurement should be interpreted cautiously. Fasting insulin adds metabolic context that is increasingly recognised as important for endurance athletes. Insulin sensitivity generally improves with training, but overtraining, chronic inflammation, and high carbohydrate intake around testing can affect insulin levels. Monitoring insulin alongside glucose helps identify metabolic efficiency and may inform fuelling strategies. This panel is best suited for serious athletes, coaches working with performance data, and individuals investigating unexplained performance decline.