Effect of Long-Term Green Tea Extract Supplementation on Peripheral Blood Leukocytes in CrossFit-Trained and Untrained Men

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of long-term green tea extract (GTE) supplementation on white blood cells (WBC) in CrossFit-trained and untrained men. Twenty-eight men were recruited for this study including CrossFit-trained (CF-TR) and untrained (CF-UNT) men. The study was carried out in two phases. Phase 1 involved non-supplemented untrained and trained men. Phase 2 involved the same groups but after 6-week supplementation with 2 GTE capsules once daily. Body weight, body composition and the number and percentage of peripheral blood leukocyte populations were assessed in each phase. The results revealed that the long-term green tea supplementation did not have a significant effect on body weight, body composition and the total white blood cell count of the study participants. However, the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils increased while monocyte and neutrophil counts decreased. The changes in white blood cells were less pronounced in CrossFit-trained compared to control participants. Summing up, it should be noted that long-term GTE supplementation in CrossFit-trained men did not result in significant changes in body weight and composition and the total white blood cell count. However, the changes in leukocyte subsets were less pronounced in CrossFit-trained compared to untrained participants

A preliminary study on infrared thermal imaging of cross-country skiers and swimmers subjected to endurance exercise

This study was focused on the thermal mapping of skin over the selected muscle zones in two groups of elite athletes fully engaged in completely other sports performing about an hour running effort at individual AT intensity. Two groups of elite male athletes, a group of cross-country skiers (CS; N = 6) and a group of elite endurance swimmers (SW; N = 4), were investigated. Thermal images of sportsmen’ body at front and from the rear were recorded before and about 1–2 min after exercise test using camera Flir Systems E60. Functional (heart rate, oxygen uptake, workload) as well as biochemical markers (activities of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, concentration of lactate and haemoglobin) were also assessed. The marked differentiation in skin temperature distribution in cross-country skiers and endurance swimmers subjected to the same endurance exercise on treadmill was observed. There was significant decrease in temperature in upper body temperature in CS group, while SW group revealed a significant increase in temperature of the lower limbs. The calculated total body skin temperature was also influenced by practicing training of elite athletes. Some significant correlations of physiological, biochemical and morphological parameters (% fat) with average temperature after exercise test were found for different muscle zones in swimmers and cross-country skiers. Statistical analysis showed that workload had the most impact on skin temperature changes, especially in swimmers. The results provide additional information on the muscle work in the different sport disciplines and may be helpful in efficiency evaluation of elite athletes

Blood serum DSC analysis of well-trained men response to CrossFit training and green tea extract supplementation

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used for the detection of post-exercise changes in blood serum resulting from participation in the CrossFit (CF) training combined with green tea extract (GTE) supplementation. Blood samples from 20 well-trained men were collected at rest, immediately post-exercise and after 1 h of recovery in two trials: first before and second after CF training combined with GTE or placebo administration in the supplemented (S) and control (C) groups, respectively. Selected muscle damage biomarkers have been compared in different phases of the experiment. A significant increase in blood lactate content has been observed post-exercise in both trials in both participants’ groups. The opposite trends have been noted for the C and S groups in creatine kinase (CK) activity changes recorded during the first to the second trial: an increase in CK for the control and a decrease for the supplemented group in all phases of the experiment: pre-exercise, post-exercise and after recovery. In the second trial, all CK values for the S group have been found significantly lower than the corresponding values recorded in the C group. These results suggest a mitigate effect of GTE supplementation on post-training muscle damage. DSC results did not reveal clear effects of training nor GTE supplementation on serum denaturation transition. However, interesting dependences of thermodynamic parameters describing this transition have been observed in different phases of the experiment. Statistically significant negative correlations have been found between post-training VO2max and post-exercise thermodynamic parameters associated with haptoglobin contribution to serum denaturation transition

Whole-body cryostimulation impact on blood serum thermal denaturation profiles of cross-country skiers

Blood plasma and serum are important diagnostic materials as they clearly reflect an individual’s metabolism. The study has evaluated the effect of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) on the blood serum of professional cross-country skiers. The experiment involved eight athletes (two women and six men) who underwent a series of ten WBC treatments. Aqueous solutions of human blood serum samples before WBC procedures, after one treatment and after a series of ten treatments were measured by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), a relatively novel diagnostic tool. DSC results showed rather little impact of cryostimulation on heat capacity changes accompanying the process of thermal denaturation of blood serum proteins in elite athletes. However, the statistically significant reduction in the intensity of the serum denaturation transition in its low temperature range has been observed after ten WBC treatments. The results have been interpreted by changes in the serum proteome profile, notably in the ratio of ligated to unligated albumin molecules. As a side result, the relationships between the relative change in body fat mass after ten WBC treatments and the levels of alpha2-globulins and beta2-globulins fractions have been found

Do exist gender differences in skin temperature of lower limbs following exercise test in male and female cross‑country skiers?

The aim of study was to assess the skin temperature changes over selected muscles zones of the lower limbs following an exercise performed at similar relative external workload in 10 male and 6 female high-trained cross-country skiers. The first stage of experiment involved preliminary exercise to determine individual oxygen uptake VO2max and anaerobic threshold. The second stage experimental exercise consisted of 60 min running on treadmill with 80% of determined VO2max Thermographic imaging of lower limbs was performed, before, immediately after exercise and during recovery. Physiological parameters: VO2, MET—metabolic energy equivalent, heart rate and internal temperature were assessed at rest and at the end of exercise, respectively. Infrared thermography showed that at rest the skin temperature over lower limb muscles was significantly higher in men than in women. In response to exercise an increase in skin temperature over the studied muscles was significantly higher in women than men. Since was no significant difference in skin temperature in men and women after exercise. Before the test, no physiological parameter was significantly different in women and men. Exercise test reveled significant differences between men and women in some physiological parameters such as VO2 and MET. Our study showed that there are significant differences in lower limbs skin temperature between male and female at rest but not at the end of exercise test. Women in comparison with men had a greater increase in skin temperature in response to exercise and a persistence of elevated temperature over muscles of lower limbs after exercise

Differential scanning calorimetry reveals that whole‑body cryostimulation in cross‑country skiers can modify their response to physical effort

In sport medicine, cryostimulation is used to help athletes to better support the training workload, to prevent the deleterious effects of strenuous exercise and to improve recovery. In this study, eight elite cross-country skiers had two experimental exercise sessions differing in that the second one was carried out after a series of 10 whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) treatments. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was applied to compare changes in athlete’s blood serum during both sessions. Mean DSC curves of serum collected in four stages of the training session: before exercise, after exercise, at 1 h recovery and after 24 h of rest have shown a similar nature of post-exercise changes and recovery regardless of the WBC. Statistically significant effect of the exercise, reflected in some parameters of serum denaturation transition, has been found. Too small number of participants in our study did not allow to verify the hypothesis

Comparison of human blood serum DSC profiles in aqueous and PBS buffer solutions

The results of studies of physiological fluids by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the purpose of diagnosis and monitoring of diseases are promising. Before the DSC method is accepted in medical diagnostics, it is worth experimenting with various environmental conditions at the research stage. Among other things, it is important to choose an appropriate solvent to dilute the tested biological fluids. In this work, human blood sera DSC profiles in aqueous and PBS (phosphatebuffered saline) solutions have been compared. Visibility of haptoglobin in the DSC profile of human blood serum is much better in water solution. In addition, contributions from albumin and haptoglobin are well separated in contrast to the PBS serum solutions. The peak or shoulder at about 83 °C which represents contributions from the CH3 domain of immunoglobulin IgG1 and/or transferrin is more clearly visible in PBS solution. The results show that the type of solvent is essential when interpreting the serum DSC profile

Long-distance Running and its Effects on Cardiorespiratory Adaptation and Physiological Strain in Marathon Runners

Popularity of long-distance running has increased as well as number of female and male marathon runners. Whilst research into physiological characteristics of endurance trained athletes has significantly increased there are only few studies on the risk factors for respiratory failure in marathon runners. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the differences in respiratory function and the physiological strain in the response to exercise stress in marathon runners. Twenty three subjects (aged 36.1 ±11.6 years) participated in a marathon running. Prior to the run and after its completion, body mass and composition, spirometry and body temperature were measured. Based on pre- and post-run temperature and changes in heart rate, the physiological strain index (PSI) was calculated. Long-distance running significantly decreased the temperature of body surfaces (p < 0.05); no significant effects were observed regarding aural canal temperature and physiological strain index (PSI). Compared to resting values, post-marathon spirometry revealed a significant decrease in post-marathon forced expiratory volume (p < 0.05), peak expiratory flow (p < 0.05) and maximal expiratory flow values (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the long-distance running results in functional changes within the respiratory system which may limit the adaptive potential and decrease exercise tolerance

The effect of medium-term sauna-based heat acclimation (MPHA) on thermophysiological and plasma volume responses to exercise performed under temperate conditionsin elite cross-country skiers

The influence of a series of ten sauna baths (MPHA) on thermophysiological and selected hematological responses in 14 elite cross-country skiers to a submaximal endurance exercise test performed under thermoneutral environmental conditions was studied. Thermal and physiological variables were measured before and after the exercise test, whereas selected hematological indices were studied before, immediately after, and during recovery after a run, before (T1) and after sauna baths (T2). MPHA did not influence the baseline internal, body, and skin temperatures. There was a decrease in the resting heart rate (HR: p = 0.001) and physiological strain (PSI: p = 0.052) after MPHA and a significant effect of MPHA on systolic blood pressure (p = 0.03), hematological indices, and an exercise effect but no combined effect of treatments and exercise on the tested variables. A positive correlation was reported between PSI and total protein (%DTP) in T2 and a negative between plasma volume (%DPV) and mean red cellular volume (%DMCV) in T1 and T2 in response to exercise and a positive one during recovery. This may suggest that MPHA has a weak influence on body temperatures but causes a moderate decrease in PSI and modifications of plasma volume restoration in response to exercise under temperate conditions in elite athletes