Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology

The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biochemical-clinical/molecular/endocrine parameters and processes that regulate athletic performance, adaptation to training, and the response to exercise. Approaches for measuring and interpreting biochemical and molecular parameters in biological fluids and cells will be illustrated, as well as the functioning of the endocrine system, the mechanisms of hormone secretion and some common endocrine-metabolic diseases, together with their relevance to the fitness and health of competitive and amateur athletes, exercise adaptation, genetic predisposition and doping.

Students will acquire the skills necessary for selecting and interpreting the most suitable biochemical-clinical/molecular parameters for monitoring specific conditions related to physical activity; they will be able to choose the most appropriate methods and field approaches available for measuring these parameters; they will know the most recent anti-doping methods; they will also acquire a basic knowledge of the functioning of the endocrine system and the main endocrine-metabolic systems; they will learn the reciprocal relationship between endocrine-metabolic response and physical activity; they will know the issues related to the existence of endocrine and metabolic diseases.