Comparison of diet consumption, body composition and lipoprotein lipid values of Kuwaiti fencing players with international norms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>No published data is currently available that describes the dietary patterns or physiological profiles of athletes participating on the Kuwaiti national fencing team and its potential impact on health and physical performance. The purpose of this investigation was to: 1) collect baseline data on nutrient intake 2) collect, analyze and report baseline for body composition, plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations during the competitive season, 3) compare the results with the international norms, 4) and provide necessary health and nutritional information in order to enhance the athletes' performance and skills.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifteen national-class fencers 21.5 ± 2.6 years of age participated in this study. Food intake was measured using a 3-day food record. Body composition was estimated using both the BOD POD and Body Mass Index (BMI). Total blood lipid profiles and maximum oxygen consumption was measured for each of the subjects during the competitive season.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results of the present study showed significant differences in dietary consumption in comparison with the recommended dietary allowances (RDA). The blood lipids profile and body composition (BMI and % body fat) were in normal range in comparison with international norms However, the average VO_{2 max}value was less than the value of the other fencers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Due to the results of the research study, a dietary regimen can be designed that would better enhance athletic performance and minimize any health risks associated with nutrition. Percent body fat and BMI will also be categorized for all players. In addition, the plasma blood tests will help to determine if any of the players have an excessive level of lipids or any blood abnormalities. The outcomes of present study will have a direct impact on the players health and therefore their skills and athletic performance.</p

Relationship between peak cardiac pumping capability and indices of cardio-respiratory fitness in healthy individuals

Cardiac power output (CPO) is a unique and direct measure of overall cardiac function (i.e. cardiac pumping capability) that integrates both flow- and pressure-generating capacities of the heart. The present study assessed the relationship between peak exercise CPO and selected indices of cardio-respiratory fitness. Thirty-seven healthy adults (23 men and 14 women) performed an incremental exercise test to volitional fatigue using the Bruce protocol with gas exchange and ventilatory measurements. Following a 40-min recovery, the subjects performed a constant maximum workload exercise test at or above 95% of maximal oxygen consumption. Cardiac output was measured using the exponential CO2 rebreathing method. The CPO, expressed in W, was calculated as the product of the mean arterial blood pressure and cardiac output. At peak exercise, CPO was well correlated with cardiac output (r = 0·92, P&lt;0·01), stroke volume (r = 0·90, P&lt;0·01) and peak oxygen consumption (r = 0·77, P&lt;0·01). The coefficient of correlation was moderate between CPO and anaerobic threshold (r = 0·47, P&lt;0·01), oxygen pulse (r = 0·57, P&lt;0·01), minute ventilation (r = 0·53, P&lt;0·01) and carbon dioxide production (r = 0·56, P&lt;0·01). Small but significant relationship was found between peak CPO and peak heart rate (r = 0·23, P&lt;0·05). These findings suggest that only peak cardiac output and stroke volume truly reflect CPO. Other indices of cardio-respiratory fitness such as oxygen consumption, anaerobic threshold, oxygen pulse, minute ventilation, carbon dioxide production and heart rate should not be used as surrogates for overall cardiac function and pumping capability of the heart. © 2012 The Authors Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging © 2012 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine

Bradykinin type 2 receptor -9/-9 genotype is associated with triceps brachii muscle hypertrophy following strength training in young healthy men

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bradykinin type 2 receptor (<it>B2BRK)</it> genotype was reported to be associated with changes in the left-ventricular mass as a response to aerobic training, as well as in the regulation of the skeletal muscle performance in both athletes and non-athletes. However, there are no reports on the effect of <it>B2BRK</it> 9-bp polymorphism on the response of the skeletal muscle to strength training, and our aim was to determine the relationship between the <it>B2BRK</it> SNP and triceps brachii functional and morphological adaptation to programmed physical activity in young adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this 6-week pretest-posttest exercise intervention study, twenty nine healthy young men (21.5 ± 2.7 y, BMI 24.2 ± 3.5 kg/m²) were put on a 6-week exercise protocol using an isoacceleration dynamometer (5 times a week, 5 daily sets with 10 maximal elbow extensions, 1 minute rest between sets). Triceps brachii muscle volumes were assessed by using magnetic resonance imaging before and after the strength training. Bradykinin type 2 receptor 9 base pair polymorphism was determined for all participants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Following the elbow extensors training, an average increase in the volume of both triceps brachii was 5.4 ± 3.4% (from 929.5 ± 146.8 cm³ pre-training to 977.6 ± 140.9 cm³ after training, p<0.001). Triceps brachii volume increase was significantly larger in individuals homozygous for −<it>9</it> allele compared to individuals with one or two +<it>9</it> alleles (−<it>9</it>/-<it>9</it>, 8.5 ± 3.8%; vs. -<it>9</it>/+<it>9</it> and +<it>9</it>/+<it>9</it> combined, 4.7 ± 4.5%, p < 0.05). Mean increases in endurance strength in response to training were 48.4 ± 20.2%, but the increases were not dependent on <it>B2BRK</it> genotype (−<it>9</it>/-<it>9</it>, 50.2 ± 19.2%; vs. -<it>9</it>/+<it>9</it> and +<it>9</it>/+<it>9</it> combined, 46.8 ± 20.7%, p > 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found that muscle morphological response to targeted training – hypertrophy – is related to polymorphisms of <it>B2BRK</it>. However, no significant influence of different <it>B2BRK</it> genotypes on functional muscle properties after strength training in young healthy non athletes was found. This finding could be relevant, not only in predicting individual muscle adaptation capacity to training or sarcopenia related to aging and inactivity, but also in determining new therapeutic strategies targeting genetic control of muscle function, especially for neuromuscular disorders that are characterized by progressive adverse changes in muscle quality, mass, strength and force production (e.g., muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease).</p