Anabolic hormones such as testosterone
and the superfamily of growth hormones (GH) have been shown to be
elevated during 15–30 minutes of post-resistance exercise providing an adequate
stimulus is present. Protocols high in volume, moderate to high in intensity, using
short rest intervals and stressing a large muscle mass, tend to produce the greatest
acute hormonal elevations (e.g. testosterone, GH and the catabolic hormone
cortisol) compared with low-volume, high-intensity protocols using long rest
intervals. Other anabolic hormones such as insulin and insulin-like growth factor-
1 (IGF-1) are critical to skeletal muscle growth. Insulin is regulated by blood
glucose and amino acid levels.