Serum autofluorescence and biochemical markers in athlete’s response to strength effort in normobaric hypoxia: a preliminary study

The human organism has the ability to adapt to hypoxia conditions. Training in hypoxia is used in sport to improve the efficiency of athletes; however, type of training affects the direction and scope of this process. Therefore, in this study, the usefulness of serum fluorescence spectroscopy to study the assessment of athlete’s response to strength effort in hypoxia is considered in comparison with biochemical assay. Six resistance-trained male subjects took part in a research experiment. They performed barbell squats in simulated normobaric hypoxic conditions with deficiency of oxygen 11.3%, 13% 14.3% compared to 21% in normoxic conditions. Fluorescence intensity of tyrosine revealed high sensitivity on strength effort whereas tryptophan was more dependent on high altitude. Changes in emission in the visible region are associated with altering cell metabolism dependent on high altitude as well as strength training and endurance training. Significant changes in serum fluorescence intensity with relatively weak modifications in biochemical assay at 3000 m above sea level (ASL) were observed. Training at 5000 m ASL caused changes in fluorescence parameters towards the normobaric specific values, and pronounced decreases of lactate level and kinase creatine activity were observed. Such modifications of fluorescence and biochemical assay indicate increased adaptation of the organism to effort in oxygen-deficient conditions at 5000 m ASL, unlike 3000 m ASL. Fluorescence spectroscopy study of serum accompanied by biochemical assay can contribute to the understanding of metabolic regulation and the physiological response to hypoxia. The results of serum autofluorescence during various concepts of altitude training may be a useful method to analyze individual response to acute and chronic hypoxia. An endogenous tryptophan could be exploited as intrinsic biomarker in autofluorescence studies. However, these issues require further research

Diversity in athlete’s response to strength effort in normobaric hypoxia: Serum DSC study

The hypoxia may be used during exercise training sessions in humans with the aim of improving athletic performance. The effect of normobaric hypoxia strength training on thermal properties of blood serum has been evaluated in a group of 12 male and female athletes using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Each athlete was tested under normoxic and simulated hypoxic (4000 m, FiO2 = 13% and 5000 m, FiO2 = 11.3%) conditions during squats with a barbell (70% 1RM) exercise. A substantial inter-individual variation in the effects of hypoxia on serum DSC curves has been observed. The effect of exercising in normobaric hypoxia has been found greater for men than for the women. When the work intensity is high enough, the strength exercise in hypoxia can trigger an acute-phase response. Calorimetric and biochemical data have shown that men’s exercising in hypoxia could increase the concentration of acute-phase proteins: haptoglobin and/or C-reactive protein. Our results suggest that 24-h period of rest is sufficient to return to the pre-exercise state after normoxic as well as hypoxic training session for both men and women. The recovery seems to be faster after the training in normobaric hypoxia conditions than in normoxia in the male but not in the female group of athletes

DSC serum profiles of sportsmen

The blood serum of young athletes has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. The component peaks of complex endothermic transition corresponding to serum denaturation may be correlated with the main protein fractions of serum: albumin, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta- and gamma-globulins. The averaged shape of thermal transition observed for serum of sportsmen participating in our pilot study differs from that reported previously for healthy subjects. One of the reason for the difference may be the lower than normal value of albumins to globulins ratio found for individuals in our group of athletes. Modifications of serum DSC transition due to the exercise test and 1 and 2 h rest have been observed. Statistically based conclusions are not currently possible because of the low number of participants in the study. The averaged responses to the effort and to the rest have been shown clearly different for athletes classified as the best and typical. The first moment of the transition with respect to the temperature axis has been found significantly lower for the group of athletes considered as the best

High-Dose Testosterone Propionate Treatment Reverses the Effects of Endurance Training on Myocardial Antioxidant Defenses in Adolescent Male Rats

This study was aimed at evaluation of changes in activities of selected antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) and contents of key nonenzymatic antioxidants (glutathione, protein thiol groups, and α- and γ-tocopherols) in the left heart ventricle of young male Wistar rats subjected to endurance training (treadmill running, 1 h daily, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks) or/and testosterone propionate treatment (8 or 80 mg/kg body weight, intramuscularly, once a week, for 6 weeks) during adolescence. The training alone increased the activities of key antioxidant enzymes, but lowered the pool of nonenzymatic antioxidants and enhanced myocardial oxidative stress as evidenced by elevation of the lipid peroxidation biomarker malondialdehyde. The lower-dose testosterone treatment showed mixed effects on the individual components of the antioxidant defense system, but markedly enhanced lipid peroxidation. The higher-dose testosterone treatment decreased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, lowered the contents of the nonenzymatic antioxidants, except for that of γ-tocopherol, reversed the effect of endurance training on the antioxidant enzymes activities, and enhanced lipid peroxidation more than the lower-dose treatment. These data demonstrate the potential risk to cardiac health from exogenous androgen use, either alone or in combination with endurance training, in adolescents

Vitamino C, kaip maisto papildo , vartojimo poveikis varžybinio lygio sportininkams atliekant didinamo krūvio pratimus

Twenty-one male basketball player (22-33 yr.) volunteered to participate in the experiment and gave their written consent. Subjects were randomly assigned to a control (control group-C) (n=10) or vitamin C (VC) (n=11) – supplemented group. The mean values (X) and standard deviation (±SD) of age and body height were 27,1±4,0 yr and 194,0±8,8 cm, while VO2max 44,7±4,2 ml/min/kg for the supplemented group and 23,3±1,3 yr, 190.0±3,3 cm, and VO2max 46,7±7,8 for the control group. During the experiment both groups were on a mixed, isocaloric diet (25% proteins, 55% carbohydrates, 20% fat). The average daily caloric and vitamin C intake from the diet of the C group equalled 3578±186 kcal and 75.6±7.7 mg. Respective values for the C group were 3715±127 kcal and 81.3±6.9 mg. All of the tested subjects performed similar, high intensity basketball training, six times per week, ranging from 90 to 120 min daily. Eleven subjects supplemented their diet with 240 mg of vitamin C (Acerola C – Nutrilite USA) taken as eight capsules three times daily (3 in the morning - 2 at midday and 3 capsules in the evening) for 2 weeks. Remaining subjects did not ingest any supplements (control group-C). No differences were observed in oxygen uptake during the progressive endurance exercise test between the supplemented and control groups during initial testing and after 14 days of the experiment. Vitamin C supplementation did not significantly effect resting creatine kinase (CK) activity as well as the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and uric acid (UA). On the other hand the progressive endurance exercise protocol caused a significant rise (p<0,05) in CK activity which remained at that level after 30 min of recovery. The level of UA and MDA after exercise rose insignificantly. After 30 min of recovery statistically significant differences were registered only in case of UA. Vitamin C supplementation did not affect the amount of leukocytes and reticulocytes in peripheral blood (Tab. 2 and 3). On the other hand after exercise and during the 30th min of recovery in the group supplemented with vitamin C a tendency for lower leukocyte count was observed in comparison to the control group. Similar tendencies were registered in case of reticulocytes (Tab. 2 and 3). The endurance exercise protocol caused a significant increase (p<0,01) in the leukocytes and reticulocytes count, both after 12 min of exercise and after its cessation (Tab. 2 and 3). After 30 min of recovery a decrease of leukocytes and reticulocytes count in blood was observed which were slightly higher than at rest. It seems that dietary vitamin C content of the tested subjects was sufficient and an additional intake through supplementation did not cause significant metabolic changes and did not effect VO2max values during the endurance exercise protocol.Eksperimente savanoriškai dalyvavo 21 krepšininkas (22–23‑ejų metų), jie visi pateikė savo raštiškus sutikimus. Tiriamieji atsitiktine tvarka buvo suskirstyti į dvi grupes: kontrolinę (C) grupę (n = 10) ir vitaminą C vartojusią (VC) grupę (n=11). Buvo nustatyti amžiaus, ūgio ir VO2max vidurkiai (X) ir standartiniai nuokrypiai (±SD): papildus (vitaminą C) vartojusios grupės amžius buvo 27,1 ± 4,0 metai, ūgis 194,0 ± 8,8 cm, VO2max 44,7 ± 4,2 ml/min/kg, o kontrolinės grupės šie rodikliai atitinkamai buvo 23,3±1,3 metai, 190,0±3,3 cm ir VO2max 46,7 ± 7,8 ml/min/kg. Eksperimento metu abiejų grupių valgiaraštis buvo mišrus, izokalorinis (25 % baltymų, 55 % angliavandenių, 20 % riebalų). C grupės kasdienis vidutinis suvartotas kalorijų ir vitamino C kiekis buvo 3578 ± 186 kcal ir 75,6±7,7 mg, VC grupės – 3715 ± 127 kcal ir 81,3 ± 6,9 mg. Visi tiriamieji atliko panašias didelio intensyvumo 90–120 min trukmės krepšinio pratybas šešis kartusper savaitę kasdien. [...

Effect of Seasonal Variation during Annual Cyclist Training on Somatic Function, White Blood Cells Composition, Immunological System, Selected Hormones and Their Interaction with Irisin

The aim of this study was to evaluate somatic, hormonal and immunological changes during the macrocycle of cyclists (9 well-trained men, age 25.6 ± 5.2 years and body weight 72.4 ± 7.35 kg). During the training macrocycle, four exercise control tests were carried out, and biochemical markers were measured in the laboratory. Seasonal training changes did not significantly disturb resting somatic and functional parameters, physical capacity (VO2max), body weight, the number of leukocytes and selected hormones. The secretory system of the organism did not respond significantly to the exercise stress in the training process, even with the increasing share of anaerobic processes in the subsequent periods of the macrocycle. Irisin and other parameters globally did not correlate with training volume. Irisin showed a significant correlation only with cortisol in the first period and human growth hormone in the second, and it showed a weak correlation in the third period with body mass and BMI. The lack of interactions between irisin level and other variables practically excludes its use in monitoring cyclist training. Future research would be complemented by the assessment of stress and postexercise changes in the cyclists’ macrocycle and expanding the research group to other athletes, including women

Physiological and Somatic Principal Components Determining VO2max in the Annual Training Cycle of Endurance Athletes

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of training on the physiological variables achieved during the test effort in the macrocycle of road cyclists and their use in the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) prediction at individual training stages in the VO2max test. Nine well-trained male cyclists (age 25.6 &plusmn; 5.2 years and body weight 72.4 &plusmn; 7.35 kg) participated in the study and each phase of the macrocycle was followed by a time to exhaustion test (TTE) on the bicycle ergometer. The research showed that training loads significantly influence the maximum power (PPO), ventilation (VE) in the preparatory period (T1), time of the test (TTmax) at the start of the competition period (T2), percentage of body fat in total body weight (%FAT) and skeletal muscle mass (MMS) during the competition period (T3). Of the 16 variables taken for the analysis of the principal components (PC), the regression model determined one principal variable responsible for VO2max in the training macrocycle of cyclists, the relative value of maximum power (PPORV) and the accompanying variables in individual periods: breathing frequency (BF), delta blood lactate concentration (&Delta;LA), body fat (FAT) and MMS. Determining PC influencing the exercise capacity can be crucial in achieving the intended goals by athletes. Monitoring these indicators can help protect the health of professional athletes and provide guidelines in the training process, stimulate the body properly while protecting against overtraining

The blood antioxidant defence capacity during intermittent hypoxic training in elite swimmers

The main objective of this study was to examine the chronic effect of simulated intermittent normobaric hypoxia on blood antioxidant defence capacity in swimmers. The study included 14 male and 14 female competitive swimmers performing part of land training under simulated intermittent normobaric hypoxia (O(2) = 15.5%) or in normoxia. Land interval training took place twice per week, with a total of 8 training units during the study, performed with individualized intensity. The activities of blood antioxidant enzymes did not change significantly during the first and last training unit in the hypoxic and normoxic group. However, when comparing individual variables a significant effect of exercise was observed on GPx an CAT activities, whereas training units significantly differentiated GPx and GR activities. The oxygen conditions and gender had a significant influence on CAT activity. The total antioxidant capacity was not significantly affected. Only in male swimmers from the hypoxic group did the training significantly increase resting levels of MDA. In conclusion, training in normobaric hypoxia was not an adequate stimulus for the excessive response of the antioxidant defence system, despite increased oxidative stress in these conditions