We gather dynamic hormonal data over a two-week period, in accordance with a specific protocol of ours, and combine that data with load calculations based on data pulled from heart rate monitors, the results of periodic fitness test results and relevant contextual data about the training program, single bouts of training, meal timing and the travel schedule.

We are measuring salivary testosterone and cortisol, with frequent intervals, and at the right time in relation to training program phases, single bouts of training and the circadian rhythm. 

On occasion, we measure total androgens, total corticosteroids, androstenedione and interleukin-6 for r&d purposes.

Testosterone is a key anabolic hormone and a major promoter of muscle growth and increase in muscle strength. 

Cortisol is a key catabolic hormone. It is much more than just a “stress hormone” – it provides priceless information about long-term fitness and the status of a person’s training load balance. 

Testosterone-to-cortisol ratio is a prime marker of anabolic vs. catabolic balance, training status and in Summa analytics it is used as a predictor of performance capacity.

Saliva contains biodata that is equivalent to what can be gathered from blood. Changes in salivary hormone levels display the responses to life events in near real time. When monitoring hormones, saliva has the added benefit of containing only their biologically active fraction. 

Saliva is easy and painless to collect and repeated samplings can be obtained with low burden. Samples can be collected on the spot in a real life setting, capturing true information without errors.

Many substances in the bloodstream are passively filtered into saliva, testosterone and cortisol included. With these hormones, saliva has the added benefit of containing only their free, biologically active fraction – the portion that matters.

The concentration of hormones in saliva is much smaller than in blood, but the values are tightly correlated with the values of the same hormone in blood and can thereby be compared.

Once a hormone is produced in the body, it can be stored for future use by binding into different proteins circulating in blood. The majority of steroid hormones are in bound form.

Bound hormones are not delivering on their biological function. Only the non-bound, free fraction of hormones, that otherwise circulate in blood bound to their carrier proteins, is able to enter cells and exert biologic effects.

Measuring the free hormone levels provides a better measure of the true hormonal status than measuring the total or bound levels.

Hormones control catabolism. Catabolism is a part of normal metabolic function and catabolic refers to the bodily status and processes that are breaking down proteins, stored sugar, fats or tissues into smaller units such fatty acids or cells, to release energy for proper maintenance of muscle and other organ activity.

Catabolism acts as a negative process with adverse effects when the body has an extremely high rate of catabolism, as opposed to anabolism – thereby depleting fat deposits and muscle tissue and until deposits found within the body become depleted.

This process takes larger structures like proteins, fats or tissues and breaks them down into smaller units such as cells or fatty acids.

Hormones control anabolism. An anabolic state is when the body builds and repairs itself to become bigger, stronger and faster – the mechanism takes smaller units like nutrients, cells, or amino acids and bonds them together to create bigger structures. 

In order for the body to be in an anabolic state, a source of energy must be consumed in sufficient quantities. Select foods or supplements will also be helpful in enabling muscle tissue to receive said energy. 

Athletes will generally require more energy than other populations in order to counteract catabolic processes.