Cortisol levels peaked at t=+4 with a 3.83-fold increase (114.3 vs 29.8 ng/ml). Circulating glucose levels were reduced by 26.9% to 5.95 mmol/l at t=+4. The circulating concentration of free fatty acids increased from 0.026 to 0.146 mmol/l at t=+4. None of these biochemical measures was influenced by sex.