The effect of different post-exercise beverages with food on ad libitum fluid recovery, nutrient provision, and subsequent athletic performance

This study investigated the effect of consuming either water or a carbohydrate (CHO)-electrolyte sports beverage (‘Sports Drink’) ad libitum with food during a 4 h post-exercise recovery period on fluid restoration, nutrient provision and subsequent endurance cycling performance. On two occasions, 16 endurance-trained cyclists; 8 male [M] (age: 31 ± 9 y; VO2max: 54 ± 6 mL·kg−1·min−1) and 8 female [F] (age: 33 ± 8 y; VO2max: 50 ± 7 mL·kg−1·min−1); lost 2.3 ± 0.3% and 1.6 ± 0.3% of their body mass (BM), respectively during 1 h of fixed-intensity cycling. Participants then had ad libitum access to either Water or Sports Drink and food for the first 195 min of a 4 h recovery period. At the conclusion of the recovery period, participants completed a cycling performance test consisting of a 45 min fixed-intensity pre-load and an incremental test to volitional exhaustion (peak power output, PPO). Beverage intake; total water/nutrient intake; and indicators of fluid recovery (BM, urine output, plasma osmolality [POSM]) were assessed periodically throughout trials. Participants returned to a similar state of net positive fluid balance prior to recommencing exercise, regardless of the beverage provided (Water: +0.4 ± 0.5 L; Sports Drink: +0.3 ± 0.3 L, p = 0.529). While Sports Drink increased post-exercise energy (M: +1.8 ± 1.0 MJ; F: +1.3 ± 0.5 MJ) and CHO (M: +114 ± 31 g; F: +84 ± 25 g) intake (i.e. total from food and beverage) (p's < 0.001), this did not improve subsequent endurance cycling performance (Water: 337 ± 40 W [M] and 252 ± 50 W [F]; Sports Drink: 340 ± 40 W [M] and 258 ± 47 W [F], p = 0.242). Recovery beverage recommendations should consider the post-exercise environment (i.e. the availability of food), an individual's tolerance for food and fluid pre−/post-exercise, the immediate requirements for refuelling (i.e. CHO demands of the activity) and the athlete's overall dietary goals.Full Tex

Influence of caffeine on performance, physiological responses, thermoregulation and hydration during a 1500m run in hot humid conditions

Introduction: Caffeine is ergogenic for endurance performance, however little research exists on middle-distance performance, particularly in hot/humid conditions. This study examined caffeine's effects on a 1500 m run in hot/humid conditions. Caffeine was expected to enhance performance and lower plasma potassium concentrations with no effect on hydration or thermoregulation, compared to placebo. Methods: In a randomised, double-blind, crossover design, two testing sessions were completed under hot/humid conditions by seventeen healthy individuals. Participants consumed a carbohydrate-controlled meal and placebo (caffeine-free cola) or caffeine (5 mg/kg in placebo) before the run. Measurements were taken at baseline, following 65 min rest and in the climate chamber before, during and after the run. Urine specific gravity, blood lactate, sweat rate, core temperature [Tcore], skin temperature, heart rate, thermal sensation, thermal comfort and plasma caffeine and potassium were assessed. Data were analysed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (p<0.05). Results: Caffeine had no effect on any variables when compared to placebo except Tcore, plasma potassium and perceived fatigue. Post-exercise Tcore was significantly higher for caffeine. Plasma potassium concentrations were significantly elevated after exercise and significantly lower with caffeine compared to placebo. Fewer participants reported fatigue with caffeine. Conclusions: Caffeine had no negative effects on hydration but did not enhance middle distance performance in hot/humid conditions. Thermoregulation was unaffected by caffeine except for post-exercise Tcore which was significantly higher with caffeine. The lack of performance effect may be attributed to the carbohydrate controlled pre-race meal. The lower potassium levels with caffeine may have contributed to the lower levels of perceived fatigue

Students’ perceptions of using Facebook as an interactive learning resource at university

Facebook is a popular platform that may facilitate learning activities at university. In this study, students' perceptions of using 'Facebook pages' within individual university subject offerings were evaluated. Individual 'Facebook pages' were developed for four university courses and used to provide information relevant to the courses and allow opportunities for student interaction. An initial questionnaire administered in the first lecture of semester indicated that nearly all students (n=161, 93.1%) possessed an active Facebook account. Most students (n=135, 78.0%) anticipated that a Facebook page would facilitate their learning, by increased interaction with students and instructors, and notifications for course information. A second questionnaire was completed in the final lecture of semester indicating that 81.9% of students engaged with the course Facebook page at some stage. However, perceptions of the effectiveness of the page as a learning tool were variable, with only 51% of students stating that it was effective. Despite this, the majority of students (n=110, 76.4%) recommended using Facebook in future courses. This preliminary evaluation of Facebook as a learning aid suggests that it has the potential to promote collaborative and cooperative learning, but further research is required, specifically to understand if and how it can enhance learning

Test-Retest Reliability of Simulated Driving Performance: A Pilot Study

Twenty-seven volunteers completed three simulated driving tests to determine test-retest reliability of performance on a low-cost, fixed-base computerized driving simulator. One retest was completed a few hours after the initial drive, and the final retest was completed 7 days following the initial test drive. Driving performance was compared using measures of vehicle control, speed, and reaction time to critical events. A measure of participants’ ability to inhibit a pre-potent response was also assessed using an inhibition task during each drive, with the number of incorrect inhibition responses recorded. Practice effects were evident for measures of vehicle control (deviation of lane position and number of line crossings) and participants’ ability to withhold responses to inhibition tasks. Good test-retest reliability was observed for measures of vehicle control, speed, reaction time, and variability measures. Poor test-retest reliability was observed for the number of stopping failures observed during driving. The findings from this study suggest that the driving scenario used provides reliable assessment tasks that could be used to track the effects of pharmacological treatments on driving performance. However, an additional familiarization drive should be included as part of future study protocols employing this driving scenario to reduce learning effects during trials. Care should also be taken when interpreting results from tasks with low test-retest reliabilit

Nutritional intakes of patients at risk of pressure ulcers in the clinical setting

Objective: Malnutrition is a risk factor for pressure ulcers. The aim of this study was to describe the energy and protein intakes of hospitalized patients at risk for pressure ulcers and to identify predictors of eating inadequately

Fluid, Energy and Nutrient Recovery via Ad Libitum Intake of Different Commercial Beverages and Food in Female Athletes

This study investigated the effect of consuming different commercial beverages with food ad libitum after exercise on fluid, energy, and nutrient recovery in trained females. On 4 separate occasions, 8 females (body mass (BM): 61.8 ± 10.7 kg; maximal oxygen uptake: 46.3 ± 7.5 mL·kg−1·min−1) lost 2.0% ± 0.3% BM cycling at ∼75% maximal oxygen uptake before completing a 4-h recovery period with ad libitum access to 1 of 4 beverages: Water, Powerade (Sports Drink), Up & Go Reduced Sugar (Lower Sugar (LS)-MILK) or Up & Go Energize (Higher Protein (HP)-MILK). Participants also had two 15-min opportunities to access food within the first 2 h of the recovery period. Beverage intake, total water/nutrient intake, and indicators of fluid recovery (BM, urine output, plasma osmolality), gastrointestinal tolerance and palatability were assessed periodically. While total water intake (from food and beverage) (Water: 1918 ± 580 g; Sports Drink: 1809 ± 338 g; LS-MILK: 1458 ± 431 g; HP-MILK: 1523 ± 472 g; p = 0.010) and total urine output (Water: 566 ± 314 g; Sports Drink: 459 ± 290 g; LS-MILK: 220 ± 53 g; HP-MILK: 230 ± 117 g; p = 0.009) differed significantly by beverage, the quantity of ingested water retained was similar across treatments (Water: 1352 ± 462 g; Sports Drink: 1349 ± 407 g; LS-MILK: 1238 ± 400 g; HP-MILK: 1293 ± 453 g; p = 0.691). Total energy intake (from food and beverage) increased in proportion to the energy density of the beverage (Water: 4129 ± 1080 kJ; Sports Drink: 5167 ± 643 kJ; LS-MILK: 6019 ± 1925 kJ; HP-MILK: 7096 ± 2058 kJ; p = 0.014). When consumed voluntarily and with food, different beverages promote similar levels of fluid recovery, but alter energy/nutrient intakes. Providing access to food and understanding the longer-term dietary goals of female athletes are important considerations when recommending a recovery beverage.No Full Tex

Direct observation of the nutrition care practices of australian general practitioners

INTRODUCTION: Nutrition care refers to nutrition-related advice or counselling provided by health professionals in an attempt to improve the nutrition behaviour of patients

Muscle fiber typology is associated with the incidence of overreaching in response to overload training

The aim of this study was to identify markers of training stress and characteristics of middle-distance runners related to the incidence of overreaching following overload training. Twenty-four highly-trained runners (n=16 male; VO2peak=73.3(4.3) mL·kg·min-1; n=8 female, VO2peak=63.2(3.4) mL·kg·min-1) completed 3 weeks of normal training (NormTr), 3 weeks of high-volume training (HVTr; a 10, 20 and 30% increase in training volume each successive week from NormTr), and a 1-week taper (TapTr; 55% exponential reduction in training volume from HVTr week 3). Before, and immediately after each training period, an incremental treadmill-running test was performed, while resting metabolic rate (RMR), subjective fatigue responses and various resting blood biomarkers were assessed. Muscle fiber typology of the gastrocnemius was estimated by quantification of muscle carnosine using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and expressed as a z-score relative to a non-athlete control group. Twelve runners were classified as functionally overreached (FOR) following HVTr (decreased running TTE), whereas the other twelve were classified as acutely fatigued (AF; no decrease in running TTE). The FOR group did not demonstrate systematic alterations in RMR, resting blood biomarkers or submaximal exercise responses compared to the AF group. Gastrocnemius carnosine z-score was significantly higher in FOR (-0.44 ± 0.57) compared to AF (-1.25 ± 0.49, p = 0.004, d = 1.53) and was also associated with changes in running TTE from pre- to post-HVTr (r=-0.55, p=0.005) and pre-HVTr to post-TapTr (r=-0.64, p=0.008). Muscle fiber typology is related to the incidence of overreaching and performance super-compensation following increased training volume and a taper