GAMMA-ORYZANOL HAS AN EQUIVALENT EFFICACY AS A LIPID-LOWERING AGENT COMPARED TO FIBRATE AND STATIN IN TWO DYSLIPIDEMIA MICE MODELS

Objective: A substantial fraction of the population is intolerant or does not respond well to the recommended treatments for dyslipidemia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy ofgamma-oryzanol (γ-ORZ) treatment in acute and long-term mouse experimental models of dyslipidemia in comparison toGemfibrozil and Simvastatin. Methods: For the acute dyslipidemia-induced model, dyslipidemia was induced in 40 mice using a single intra-peritoneal administration of Triton WR-1339. For the long-termmodel, dyslipidemia was induced in 24 mice using a hypercholesterolemic diet over 14 days. Thereafter, animals were divided into different groups of treatment,and orally received treatments with gamma-oryzanol (5, 25, 50mg. kg-1), gemfibrozil or simvastatin. For biochemical analysis, glucose, total cholesterol and triacylglycerols were measured. Body weight and net food intake was registered weekly, and urea, creatinine, AST and ALT levels were evaluated. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls method,and p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Only the highest dose of γ-ORZ exhibited significant protective effects. Gamma-oryzanol andGemfibrozil treatments reduced total cholesterol and triacylglycerols levels in a similar manner in the acute model. In the second model, γ-ORZ and simvastatin treatments reduced glucose and total cholesterol levels in the same way. In addition, the administration ofγ-ORZ did not cause any adverse events, or significantly altered hepatic enzymes levels, plasmatic urea or creatinine concentrations. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that gamma-oryzanol acts as a potential lipid-lowering agent, reducing triglycerides and total cholesterol in dyslipidemia-induced models

Glutamine protects against increases in blood ammonia in football players in an exercise intensity-dependent way

Objective: High-intensity and prolonged exercise significantly enhances the levels of plasma ammonia, a metabolite with toxic effects on the central nervous system. The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the metabolic response of athletes to glutamine (Gln) and alanine (Ala) supplementation, since these amino acids have a significant influence on both anaplerosis and gluconeogenesis. Methods: Professional football players were assigned to groups receiving either Gln or Ala supplementation (100 mg kg(-1) body weight); this supplementation was either short-term or long-term and was given immediately before exercise. The players were evaluated using two exercise protocols, one with intervals (n = 18) and the other with continuous intensity (n = 12). Results: Both types of exercises increased ammonia, urate, urea and creatinine in blood. Chronic Gln supplementation partially protected against hyperammonemia after a football match (intermittent exercise: Gln 2140 (SEM 13)% vs Ala 2240 (SEM 37)%) and after continuous exercise at 80% of the maximum heart rate (Gln 2481 (SEM 44)% vs placebo 2778 (SEM 99)%). Urate increased by 10-20% in all groups, independently of supplementation. Glutamine once a day supplementation induced a greater elevation in urate as compared to alanine at the end of the game; however, long-term supplementation provoked a lesser increment in urate. Exercise induced similar increases in creatinine as compared to their respective controls in either acute or chronic glutamine administration. Conclusions: Taken together, the results suggest that chronically supplemented Gln protects against exercise-induced hyperammonemia depending on exercise intensity and supplementation duration

Elevação da Natremia Induzida pela Cafeína Durante o Exercício

A cafeína aumenta a atividade do eixo hipotalâmico-hipofisário-adrenal causando diversos efeitos no sistema nervoso central e no metabolismo. A xantina aumenta a velocidade de reação e diminui a percepção do esforço, o que a leva a ser utilizada como recurso ergogênico. O efeito diurético da cafeína é conhecido, assim como seus efeitos na concentração de íons plasmáticos. No presente estudo, avaliamos os efeitos da cafeína na concentração dos principais íons plasmáticos de jogadores de futebol de time profissional da primeira divisão do campeonato brasileiro com reposição hidroeletrolítica ad libitum. Para garantir a integridade metabólica, nossos atletas foram avaliados clinica, hematológica e bioquimicamente antes do estudo, na fase de pré-temporada, em que estavam submetidos a treinamento, alimentação, descanso e sono controlados. Os resultados demonstraram um incremento na concentração de fósforo e cloro em resposta ao exercício. Não houve modificação da kalemia nos grupos estudados. A natremia se elevou no grupo suplementado com cafeína e submetido ao exercício, demonstrando um efeito hemoconcentrador ou poupador da natriurese da xantina nesta condição, sendo possível postular um efeito poupador de sódio, provavelmente ligado à aldosterona

High-intensity ultraendurance promotes early release of muscle injury markers

Objective: To evaluate the impact of high-intensity ultraendurance (HIU) cycling, using it as a possible way to understand muscle injury kinetics and blood immune cells' release during high-intensity prolonged exercise Design: Male amateur triathletes enrolled during a cycling race of the International Bike Championship 800 km cycling relay (similar to 23 h). Each athlete alternately cycled 20-25 minutes until exhaustion and performed a total of approximately 200 km. Results: Creatine kinase levels in blood reached a 300% rise in a sigmoidal pattern, while lactate dehydrogenase levels increased by 30-40% following a hyperbolic pattern. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels increased by up to 250% and 140%, respectively. Liver injury markers such as alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase remained stable. Platelets increased by 20-30% from pre-exercise, and there was no change in haematocrit during the race. White blood cells rose by nearly 200%. Leucocytes rose 210% during the race, with a major component coming from neutrophils, which increased more than 300%. Triacylglycerol levels were decreased at the finish and total cholesterol levels remained unchanged. Urate increased (by up to 35%) during the first half of the race, and urea levels increased with a different pattern, increasing by 45% in the second half. Conclusions: This study showed the blood appearance kinetics of muscle injury markers and some metabolites. It is suggested that the increase in these enzymes came primarily from muscle damage, rather than liver damage, and that white blood cells are selectively mobilised independently of haemoconcentration. The early appearance of muscle injury markers in this kind of exercise was also shown.421188989

The upper values of plasma creatine kinase of professional soccer players during the Brazilian National Championship

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The current schedule of the Brazilian Soccer Championship may not give players enough recovery time between games. This could increase the chances of muscle damage and impaired performance. We hypothesized that plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity could be a reliable indirect marker of muscle overload in soccer players, so we sought to identify the reference values for upper limits of CK activity during a real-life elite competition. This study analyzed changes in plasma CK activity in 128 professional soccer players at different times during the Brazilian Championship. The upper limits of the 97.5th and 90th percentiles determined for CK activity were 1.338U/L and 975U/L, respectively, markedly higher than values previously reported in the literature. We also evaluated a team monthly throughout the Championship. The upper limit of the 90th percentile, 975 U/L, was taken as the decision limit. Six players showing plasma CK values higher than this were asked to decrease their training for 1 week. These players presented lower CK values afterwards. Only one player with a CK value higher than the decision limit (1800U/L 1 day before a game) played on the field and was unfortunately injured during the game. The CK activity in all the other players showed a significant decrease over the course of the Championship, and the values became more homogeneous at the end. The results presented here suggest that plasma CK upper limit values can be used as a practical alternative for early detection of muscle overload in competing soccer players. (C) 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.1218590Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FAPESP [04/07203-5]CNPq [Pronex-03/09923-2, 523383-96-7

High-intensity ultraendurance promotes early release of muscle injury markers

Objective:To evaluate the impact of high-intensity ultraendurance (HIU) cycling, using it as a possible way to understand muscle injury kinetics and blood immune cells’ release during high-intensity prolonged exerciseDesign:Male amateur triathletes enrolled during a cycling race of the International Bike Championship 800 km cycling relay (∼23 h). Each athlete alternately cycled 20–25 minutes until exhaustion and performed a total of approximately 200 km.Results:Creatine kinase levels in blood reached a 300% rise in a sigmoidal pattern, while lactate dehydrogenase levels increased by 30–40% following a hyperbolic pattern. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels increased by up to 250% and 140%, respectively. Liver injury markers such as alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase remained stable. Platelets increased by 20–30% from pre-exercise, and there was no change in haematocrit during the race. White blood cells rose by nearly 200%. Leucocytes rose 210% during the race, with a major component coming from neutrophils, which increased more than 300%. Triacylglycerol levels were decreased at the finish and total cholesterol levels remained unchanged. Urate increased (by up to 35%) during the first half of the race, and urea levels increased with a different pattern, increasing by 45% in the second half.Conclusions:This study showed the blood appearance kinetics of muscle injury markers and some metabolites. It is suggested that the increase in these enzymes came primarily from muscle damage, rather than liver damage, and that white blood cells are selectively mobilised independently of haemoconcentration. The early appearance of muscle injury markers in this kind of exercise was also shown

The Upper Values Of Plasma Creatine Kinase Of Professional Soccer Players During The Brazilian National Championship.

The current schedule of the Brazilian Soccer Championship may not give players enough recovery time between games. This could increase the chances of muscle damage and impaired performance. We hypothesized that plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity could be a reliable indirect marker of muscle overload in soccer players, so we sought to identify the reference values for upper limits of CK activity during a real-life elite competition. This study analyzed changes in plasma CK activity in 128 professional soccer players at different times during the Brazilian Championship. The upper limits of the 97.5th and 90th percentiles determined for CK activity were 1.338U/L and 975U/L, respectively, markedly higher than values previously reported in the literature. We also evaluated a team monthly throughout the Championship. The upper limit of the 90th percentile, 975U/L, was taken as the decision limit. Six players showing plasma CK values higher than this were asked to decrease their training for 1 week. These players presented lower CK values afterwards. Only one player with a CK value higher than the decision limit (1800U/L 1 day before a game) played on the field and was unfortunately injured during the game. The CK activity in all the other players showed a significant decrease over the course of the Championship, and the values became more homogeneous at the end. The results presented here suggest that plasma CK upper limit values can be used as a practical alternative for early detection of muscle overload in competing soccer players.1285-9