Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo

Meeting Abstracts: Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo Clearwater Beach, FL, USA. 9-11 June 201

The Effect of Beta-Alanine versus Alkaline Agent Supplementation Combined with Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Creatine Malate in Highly-Trained Sprinters and Endurance Athletes: A Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Study

The study aimed to verify the effect of intra- (beta-alanine—BA) versus extra- (alkaline agents—ALK) cellular buffering agent supplementation, combined with customarily used branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and creatine malate (TCM) treatment in natural training conditions. Thirty-one elite athletes (11 sprinters and 20 endurance athletes) participated in the study. Eight-week randomized double-blind, crossover, combined supplementation with BA-ALKplaBCAA&TCM and ALK-BAplaBCAA&TCM was implemented. In the course of the experiment, body composition, aerobic capacity, and selected blood markers were assayed. After BA-ALKplaBCAA&TCM supplementation, total fat-free mass increased in sprinters (p = 0.009). No other differences were found in body composition, respiratory parameters, aerobic capacity, blood lactate concentration, and hematological indices after BA-ALKplaBCAA&TCM/ALK-BAplaBCAA&TCM supplementation. The maximum post-exercise blood ammonia (NH3) concentration decreased in both groups after BA-ALKplaBCAA&TCM supplementation (endurance, p = 0.002; sprint, p < 0.0001). Also, lower NH3 concentrations were observed in endurance athletes in the post-exercise recovery period. The results of our study indicate that combined BCAA, TCM, and BA supplementation is more effective than combined BCAA, TCM and ALK supplementation for an increase in fat-free mass and exercise adaptation, but not for aerobic capacity improvement. Besides, it seems that specific exercise stimuli and the training status are key factors affecting exercise performance, even in athletes using efficient supplementation

Czy suplementacja argininą jest skuteczną metodą wspomagania zdolności wysiłkowych w sporcie?

Arginina jest aminokwasem względnie egzogennym, uczestniczącym w procesach biosyntezy białka, regulacji działania śródbłonka naczyniowego i detoksykacji organizmu. Znaczenie odpowiedniego spożycia argininy wzrasta w stanach fizjologicznych, związanych z chorobą, urazem lub znacznym obciążeniem organizmu. Z powodu potencjalnie ergogenicznego wpływu podaży argininy, poprzez stymulację syntezy tlenku azotu, hormonu wzrostu i kreatyny, jest ona często suplementowana przez sportowców. W przeciwieństwie do wielu badań klinicznych, z udziałem m.in. rekonwalescentów i osób z chorobami układu krążenia, wykazujących związek podaży argininy ze wzrostem wydolności fizycznej oraz korzystną regulacją parametrów endokrynologicznych, u wysoko wytrenowanych, zdrowych sportowców uzyskiwane wyniki są niejednoznaczne. Często dowodzą one braku wpływu preparatów argininy na moc, siłę i masę mięśniową, maksymalny pobór tlenu oraz stężenie hormonu wzrostu i tlenku azotu. W tej sytuacji uzasadniona jest konieczność prowadzenia dalszych badań nad celowością zwiększania podaży argininy u sportowców wybranych dyscyplin, jednakże w badaniach tych muszą być zachowane odpowiednie procedury, uwzględniające badania krzyżowe z podwójnie ślepą próbą

Assessment of Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status in CrossFit-Trained Individuals: A Descriptive Study

CrossFit is a discipline with high training and nutritional requirements. To date, there is only scarce data evaluating nutrition among CrossFit training and they mostly focus on selected nutritional interventions. Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive study was the assessment of dietary intake and nutritional status in a selected group of CrossFit-trained participants. The study consisted of 62 CrossFit athletes (31 men and 31 women, aged 31.0 ± 5.2 and 30.0 ± 4.3 years, respectively). Body composition was analyzed by electrical bioimpedance. Dietary intake was assessed using a standardized 3-day food record. Body fat percentage for females and males was 20.3 ± 4.3% and 13.7 ± 3.3% respectively. The energy intake in the diet was lower (~1700 kcal in women and ~2300 kcal in men) than the recommended demand. Moreover, low consumption of carbohydrates was stated, as well as an inadequate intake of folate, vitamin E (in women), and minerals, such as Fe and Ca (in women). The energy, carbohydrate, iron, and calcium intake in the CrossFit participants’ diet was too low in comparison to recommendations. It seems justified to educate athletes and coaches about nutritional habits, and individual energy and nutrients requirements

The effect of multi-ingredient intra- versus extra-cellular buffering supplementation combined with branched-chain amino acids and creatine on exercise-induced ammonia blood concentration and aerobic capacity in taekwondo athletes

Background This study aimed to investigate the effect of multi-ingredient intra- (BA) versus extra- (ALK) cellular buffering factor supplementation, combined with the customary intake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and creatine malate (TCM), on body composition, exercise variables, and biochemical and hematological parameters in 9 elite taekwondo athletes. Methods Eight-week randomized double-blind crossover BA (5.0 g·day−1 of β-alanine) versus ALK (0.07 g·kgFFM −1·day−1 of sodium bicarbonate) supplementation combined with BCAA (0.2 g·kgFFM −1·day−1) and TCM (0.05 g·kgFFM −1·day−1) during a standard 8-week taekwondo training period was implemented. In the course of the experiment, body composition (dual X-ray absorptiometry), aerobic capacity (ergospirometric measurements during an incremental treadmill test until exhaustion), and exercise blood biomarkers concentrations were measured. Data were analyzed using repeated measures within-between interaction analysis of variance with the inclusion of experimental supplementation order. Results The maximum post-exercise blood ammonia concentration decreased in both groups after supplementation (from 80.3 ± 10.6 to 72.4 ± 10.2 µmol∙L−1, p = 0.013 in BA; from 81.4 ± 8.7 to 74.2 ± 8.9 µmol∙L−1, p = 0.027 in ALK), indicating reduced exercise-related adenosine triphosphate degradation. However, no differences were found in body composition, aerobic capacity, blood lactate concentration, and hematological parameters after neither BA (combined with BCAA and TCM) nor ALK (combined with BCAA and TCM) supplementation. Conclusions In highly trained taekwondo athletes, neither extra- nor intracellular buffering enhancement resulting from BA and ALK supplementation, combined with BCAA and TCM treatment, affects body mass and composition, maximum oxygen uptake, and hematological indices, even though certain advantageous metabolic adaptations can be observed

The Effect of a 12-Week Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) Supplementation on Highly-Trained Combat Sports Athletes: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study

The aim of this study was to verify the effect of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation on physical capacity, body composition and the value of biochemical parameters in highly-trained combat sports athletes. Forty-two males highly-trained in combat sports were subjected to 12 weeks of supplementation with HMB and a placebo in a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind crossover manner. Over the course of the experiment, aerobic and anaerobic capacity was determined, while analyses were conducted on body composition and levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, testosterone, cortisol and lactate. Following HMB supplementation, fat-free mass increased (p = 0.049) with a simultaneous reduction of fat mass (p = 0.016) in comparison to placebo. In turn, after HMB supplementation, the following indicators increased significantly in comparison to the placebo: the time to reach ventilatory threshold (p < 0.0001), threshold load (p = 0.017) and the threshold HR (p < 0.0001), as well as anaerobic peak power (p = 0.005), average power (p = 0.029), maximum speed (p < 0.001) and post-exercise lactate concentrations (p < 0.0001). However, when compared to the placebo, no differences were observed in blood marker levels. The results indicate that supplying HMB promotes advantageous changes in body composition and stimulates an increase in aerobic and anaerobic capacity in combat sports athletes

Immunological Outcomes of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation in Trained and Physically Active People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Bovine colostrum (BC) is a promising natural product applied to improve immunological functions. However, there is very little evidence on the true benefits of BC treatment on the immune function of trained and physically active people; moreover, there is no consensus on the supplementation strategy. For this reason, the aim of this meta-analysis was to quantify the effects of BC supplementation on immunological outcomes in physically active people. Data from 10 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of BC supplementation in athletes and physically active adults were analysed, involving 239 participants. The results show that BC supplementation has no or a fairly low impact on improving the concentration of serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG), lymphocytes and neutrophils, and saliva immunoglobulin (IgA) in athletes and physically active participants. Previous research has shown BC to reduce upper respiratory tract infections; nevertheless, there is a gap of scientific knowledge on the mechanisms underlying these effects. Future RCTs are needed to focus on finding these mechanisms, as well as on preparing a clear consensus on a BC supplementation strategy in trained athletes and the physically active population

Effect of a four-week ketogenic diet on exercise metabolism in CrossFit-trained athletes

Abstract Background The ketogenic diet is becoming a popular nutritional model among athletes. However, the relationship between its use and metabolism during exercise seems to have not been fully investigated. Methods The aim of the study was to assess the effects of a four-week ketogenic diet (KD) on fat and carbohydrate (CHO) utilization during an incremental cycling test (ICT) in CrossFit-trained female (n = 11) and male (n = 11) athletes. During the ICT (while consuming the customary diet and after the KD), oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide exhalation were registered, and CHO and fat utilization as well as energy expenditure were calculated. Results In males, the KD led to an increase in fat utilization (g·min− 1·kgFFM − 1 and % oxidation). It was particularly noticeable at exercise intensities up to 80% of VO2max. An increase in the area under the curve (AUC) was seen in males but not in females at up to ≤65% VO2max of fat utilization. Conclusions Male CrossFit-trained athletes seem to be more prone to shifts in macronutrient utilization (in favor of fat utilization) during submaximal intensity exercise under a ketogenic diet than are female athletes. Trial registration Clinical Trials Gov, NCT03665948. Registered 11 September 2018 (retrospectively registered)

Evaluation of Fluid Loss and Customary Fluid Intake among a Selected Group of Young Swimmers: A Preliminary Field Study

This study aimed to assess fluid loss (FL) and customary fluid intake (FI) during a training session, and the relationship between FL and total body water (TBW) content in a selected group of young swimmers. The study involved 17 (seven females, 10 males) individuals whose anthropometric and body composition analyses and FI during training units were carried out. The total average FI and total actual FL oscillated around 531 mL and −513 mL for the whole study group (469 mL and −284 mL for females, 574 mL and −674 mL for males). The dependent and independent sample t-tests, the Cohen’s d effect size and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were analysed. Significant differences were observed between pre-workout and post-workout body weights after training without FI in the whole group (66.5 kg vs. 66.0 kg, p < 0.001, d = 0.06), in females (61.2 kg vs. 60.9 kg, p = 0.015, d = 0.04) and males (70.3 kg vs. 69.6 kg, p < 0.001, d = 0.9). For the TBW content and fat-free mass (FFM) before and after training, significant differences were observed only in males (TBW: 43.8 L vs. 43.2 L, p = 0.002, d = 0.14; and 62.4% vs. 61.7%, p < 0.001, d = 0.36; FFM: 59.8 kg vs. 59.1 kg, p = 0.002, d = 0.12). Moreover, the relationship between the actual FL and TBW before training was observed in the whole (mL vs. %: r = −0.64, p = 0.006; mL vs. L: r = −0.84, p < 0.001) and the male group (mL vs. L: r = −0.73, p = 0.017). These results indicated FL in young swimmers during training and the relationship between FL and pre-training TBW content, which suggests that it is important to also pay special attention to effective hydration procedures before and during training in aquatic environments