EFFECTS OF VARYING BODY FAT LEVELS ON FAT OXIDATION RATES IN EUMENORRHEIC FEMALES

BACKGROUND: Fatty acids (FA) are the predominate fuel source at exercise intensities \u3c 65% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Aerobically trained individuals tend to exhibit a greater ability to oxidize FA at higher relative intensities than untrained individuals. Eumenorrheic females have a greater ability to oxidize FA than men, partially due to hormonal differences. Interestingly, a recent review concluded that unlike males, body composition does not affect fat oxidation (Foxi) rates in women. However, no studies have yet matched subjects first for aerobic fitness status prior to testing Foxi rates. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare Foxi rates between lean and overweight females when matched prior for aerobic fitness status. METHODS: A between-subjects design will be used to compare Foxi between lean and overweight females with matched fitness statuses. Thirty healthy and eumenorrheic female participants between the ages of 18-39 will be recruited to complete two trials. Trial 1 will consist of descriptive data collection and a peak aerobic test (VO2peak) consisting of a walk phase (1.0-3.5 mph) and a run phase (4-8 mph) using a motorized treadmill set at a 3% grade. Participants will be matched for aerobic status (VO2peak between 35 ± 5 mL·kg-1·min-1) and stratified into 2 groups based on body fat percentage (BF%),(seca mBCA 515, Hamburg, Germany). A graded exercise test (GXT) for trial 2 will be completed during the menses phase of the participants’ menstrual cycle and will consist of 6 (25%, 35%, 45%, 55%, 65%, 75% of VO2peak), 3-minute stages at a 3% incline on a motorized treadmill. Throughout the GXT, metabolic data and heart rate will be collected via Parvo Metabolic cart and a sternal heart rate monitor, respectively. At each stage heart rate and cardiorespiratory measures will be recorded and later used to calculate Foxi rates across each stage. Data will be analyzed with a 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance to identify differences, if any, between lower-fat and higher-fat groups. ANTICIPATED RESULTS: It is hypothesized that, when matched for aerobic fitness, overweight females will demonstrate higher rates of Foxi compared to their lean counterparts at lower intensities

Astaxanthin Supplementation Reduces Subjective Markers of Muscle Soreness following Eccentric Exercise in Resistance-Trained Men

Strenuous exercise involving eccentric muscle actions induces skeletal muscle damage resulting in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Antioxidant supplementation, such as astaxanthin (AX), may alleviate muscle injury following intense exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a four-week course of AX supplementation at 12 mg/day−1 on subjective markers of DOMS, recovery, and performance after a bout of muscle damaging eccentric exercise. Nineteen resistance-trained men (mean ± SD: age, 22.6 ± 2.2 y) completed a between-group design with a four-week supplementation period of 12 mg/day−1 of either AX or a placebo. Subjects completed four trials, with trials One and Three designed to induce muscle damage, consisting of a one repetition maximum test (1RM) for leg-press, followed by five sets of ten repetitions at 65% of 1RM. Trials Two and Four were performance trials, conducted 48 h later and consisting of repetitions to failure at 65%, 70%, and 75% of 1RM. Subjective markers of DOMS and recovery were collected at multiple timepoints post-trial for trials One and Three. Although performance was not affected (p > 0.05), AX supplementation significantly decreased subjective markers of DOMS (p = 0.01) compared to the placebo. The results demonstrated that AX may enhance recovery by reducing DOMS without detriment to performance in resistance-trained men

THE EFFECT OF ASTAXANTHIN ON THE PREVENTION OF COGNITIVE DECREMENTS FOLLOWING A MENTAL FATIGUE PROTOCOL

BACKGROUND: Astaxanthin (AX) is a carotenoid found in marine species and is a popular dietary supplement due to its unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. It appears that AX may preserve aspects of cognition during periods of cerebral stress (such as cognitive fatigue or in the development of neurodegeneration), provided AX’s ability to support and maintain mitochondria function, specifically within the brain. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effect AX has on markers of cognitive performance following a mental fatiguing protocol in recreationally active females. METHODS: Participants will include 30 recreationally active females (18-39 years) and will utilize a double-blinded, between-design, with participants reporting to the laboratory on four separate occasions. All trials will consist of a battery of baseline and post-mental fatigue cognitive assessments (psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), task switching, incongruent flanker). Additionally, either a battery of mentally fatiguing tasks (color multi-source interference task (CMSIT), Rapid visual information processing task (RVIP), time load dual back task (TLDB)), or a time-matched control will be utilized in between pre and post-testing. Following trial 2, participants will be randomly assigned to ingest either AX (12 mg/day-1) or a matched placebo for 6-weeks prior to reporting back to the laboratory for repeat post-testing. ANTICIPATED RESULTS: It is hypothesized AX will mitigate decrements to cognitive performance following mental fatigue in recreationally active females. Funding: This study is funded by AstaReal USA

THE EFFECT OF ASTAXANTHIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON SUBJECTIVE MARKERS OF MUSCLE SORENESS IN WOMEN.

BACKGROUND: Strenuous exercise involving eccentric muscle actions induces skeletal muscle damage, resulting in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Antioxidant supplementation, such as astaxanthin (AX), may alleviate muscle injury following intense exercise. While previous research in males demonstrated that AX ingestion can reduce subjective measures of DOMS and possibly enhance aspects of endurance performance, to date, no studies have yet been conducted in a female only cohort. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of AX supplementation at 12 mg/day-1 for 6-weeks on markers of physical performance and subjective markers of DOMS in females. METHODS: Participants will include 30, recreationally-active and healthy females (18-39 years), and the protocol will use a double-blinded, between-design (AX vs. placebo). Participants will complete four trials, with trials 1 and 3 designed to induce muscle damage (EIMD), consisting of a one-repetition maximum test (1RM) for leg-press, followed by five sets of ten repetitions at 65% of 1RM. Trials 2 and 4 will test exercise performance and will be conducted 48 h post-EIMD. Trials 2 and 4 will consist of sets at 65%, 70%, and 75% of 1RM to failure, with total repetitions completed included as our markers of physical performance. Subjective markers of DOMS will be collected using a visual analog scale and an algometer to test muscle tenderness 24, 36, & 48 h post EIMD. ANTICIPATED RESULTS: It is hypothesized that AX will reduce the subjective feelings of DOMS while possibly enhancing total repetitions completed due to a reduction in DOMS during trials 2 and 4. FUNDING: This study is funded by AstaReal USA

NO BENEFIT OF INGESTING A LOW-DOSE KETONE MONOESTER SUPPLEMENT ON COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN TRAINED FEMALES

BACKGROUND: β-hydroxybutyrate is one of three substrates that the brain can preferentially oxidize for meeting energetic demands. Ketone monoesters (KME) allow for the rapid elevation in circulating β-hydroxybutyrate levels without following a low-carbohydrate diet or prolonged fasting and some past work with KME have shown potential to mitigate cognitive decrements in states of fatigue, but no studies have yet been conducted in a female cohort. METHODS: Following a familiarization session and a baseline session without a mental fatiguing protocol (MF), 12 trained females completed two experimental sessions, consisting of a battery of cognitive tests (psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), task-switching, incongruent flanker) performed before (PRE) and after (POST) MF. In a counter-balanced crossover design, a ketone monoester (KME, ~188 mg·kg-1 body mass) or non-caloric placebo (PLA) were ingested before MF. Markers of cognitive performance (speed and correct responses per second), blood β-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, and lactate, and subjective markers of perceived cognitive load and fatigue were collected at PRE and POST.RESULTS: KME ingestion significantly increased blood β-hydroxybutyrate (P\u3c0.001; ~1.8 mM), decreased glucose (P\u3c0.001; ~0.6 mM), and attenuated a ~34% rise in lactate at POST compared to PLA (P=0.04). MF significantly increased perceived cognitive workload and fatigue for both experimental trials in comparison to the control (P\u3c0.05) but did not impair any of the cognitive variables assessed (all P\u3e0.05). Although ingestion of a KME increased perceptions of cognitive performance compared to PLA (KME, 7.8 vs. PLA, 5.5; P=0.05), no differences were observed between groups for markers of cognition.CONCLUSION: Although changes in blood markers mimic those observed in past KME investigations, compared with PLA, KME ingestion did not affect cognitive performance following a MF protocol in trained females

ACUTE INGESTION OF A KETONE MONOESTER WITH CARBOHYDRATE IMPROVES COGNITIVE MEASURES BUT NOT PERFORMANCE IN TRAINED FEMALES

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the field of sports performance and cognitive enhancement has witnessed a growing interest in the potential benefits offered to athletes with the supplementation of exogenous ketones, specifically the ketone monoester (KME). However, the present literature has examined KME ingestion in male or mixed cohorts, with female research currently underrepresented. Thus, we examined the acute ingestion of a KME with co-ingestion of a carbohydrate (KME+CHO) compared to carbohydrate alone (CHO) on cycling performance and cognitive performance in trained females. METHODS: Using a two condition, placebo-controlled, crossover design, twelve trained females (mean ± SD: age, 23 ± 3 y; height, 1.64 ± 0.08 m; mass, 65.2 ± 12.7 kg) completed a baseline assessment of cognitive performance (psychomotor vigilance testing (PVT), task switching, and incongruent flanker), followed by 6x5-min intervals at 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, and 65% of their maximal power output (Wmax) and then a 10-km time trial (TT), concluding with the same assessments of cognitive performance post-exercise. Participants consumed either 375 mg·kg-1 body mass of KME with a 6% CHO solution (1 g·min-1 of exercise) or CHO alone, across 3 boluses (50:25:25). RESULTS: Blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations averaged 1.80±0.07 mM and 0.13±0.01 mM during exercise in KME+CHO and CHO, respectively. Blood glucose decreased following drink 1 of KME+CHO (~15%; P=0.01) but not CHO alone, and lactate concentrations were significantly lower in KME+CHO at 50%, 55%, 60%, and -65%Wmax (all P\u3c0.05), compared to CHO. Despite these changes, no differences were found between conditions for TT finishing times (KME+CHO, 29.7±5.7 min; CHO, 29.6±5.7 min; P=0.92). However, only KME+CHO resulted in increases in PVT speed (~4%; P=0.01) and faster reaction times (~14%; P\u3c0.01), and speed (~15%; P\u3c0.01) and correct responses (~13%; P=0.03) in the incongruent flanker during post-testing compared to CHO alone. CONCLUSION: Acute ingestion of a KME+CHO elevated blood β-hydroxybutyrate and simultaneously lowered glucose and lactate across multiple timepoints during exercise compared to CHO alone. Although these changes did not affect physical performance, several markers of cognitive performance were improved by the addition of a KME in trained females

Enhanced infection prophylaxis reduces mortality in severely immunosuppressed HIV-infected adults and older children initiating antiretroviral therapy in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe: the REALITY trial

Meeting abstract FRAB0101LB from 21st International AIDS Conference 18–22 July 2016, Durban, South Africa. Introduction: Mortality from infections is high in the first 6 months of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV‐infected adults and children with advanced disease in sub‐Saharan Africa. Whether an enhanced package of infection prophylaxis at ART initiation would reduce mortality is unknown. Methods: The REALITY 2×2×2 factorial open‐label trial (ISRCTN43622374) randomized ART‐naïve HIV‐infected adults and children >5 years with CD4 <100 cells/mm3. This randomization compared initiating ART with enhanced prophylaxis (continuous cotrimoxazole plus 12 weeks isoniazid/pyridoxine (anti‐tuberculosis) and fluconazole (anti‐cryptococcal/candida), 5 days azithromycin (anti‐bacterial/protozoal) and single‐dose albendazole (anti‐helminth)), versus standard‐of‐care cotrimoxazole. Isoniazid/pyridoxine/cotrimoxazole was formulated as a scored fixed‐dose combination. Two other randomizations investigated 12‐week adjunctive raltegravir or supplementary food. The primary endpoint was 24‐week mortality. Results: 1805 eligible adults (n = 1733; 96.0%) and children/adolescents (n = 72; 4.0%) (median 36 years; 53.2% male) were randomized to enhanced (n = 906) or standard prophylaxis (n = 899) and followed for 48 weeks (3.8% loss‐to‐follow‐up). Median baseline CD4 was 36 cells/mm3 (IQR: 16–62) but 47.3% were WHO Stage 1/2. 80 (8.9%) enhanced versus 108(12.2%) standard prophylaxis died before 24 weeks (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.54–0.97) p = 0.03; Figure 1) and 98(11.0%) versus 127(14.4%) respectively died before 48 weeks (aHR = 0.75 (0.58–0.98) p = 0.04), with no evidence of interaction with the two other randomizations (p > 0.8). Enhanced prophylaxis significantly reduced incidence of tuberculosis (p = 0.02), cryptococcal disease (p = 0.01), oral/oesophageal candidiasis (p = 0.02), deaths of unknown cause (p = 0.02) and (marginally) hospitalisations (p = 0.06) but not presumed severe bacterial infections (p = 0.38). Serious and grade 4 adverse events were marginally less common with enhanced prophylaxis (p = 0.06). CD4 increases and VL suppression were similar between groups (p > 0.2). Conclusions: Enhanced infection prophylaxis at ART initiation reduces early mortality by 25% among HIV‐infected adults and children with advanced disease. The pill burden did not adversely affect VL suppression. Policy makers should consider adopting and implementing this low‐cost broad infection prevention package which could save 3.3 lives for every 100 individuals treated