Effects of carbohydrate and glutamine supplementation on oral mucosa immunity after strenuous exercise at high altitude: a double-blind randomized trial

This study analyzed the effects of carbohydrate and glutamine supplementation on salivary immunity after exercise at a simulated altitude of 4500 m. Fifteen volunteers performed exercise of 70% of VO2peak until exhaustion and were divided into three groups: hypoxia placebo, hypoxia 8% maltodextrin (200 mL/20 min), and hypoxia after six days glutamine (20 g/day) and 8% maltodextrin (200 mL/20 min). All procedures were randomized and double-blind. Saliva was collected at rest (basal), before exercise (pre-exercise), immediately after exercise (post-exercise), and two hours after exercise. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures and Tukey post hoc test were performed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. SaO(2)% reduced when comparing baseline vs. pre-exercise, post-exercise, and after recovery for all three groups. There was also a reduction of SaO(2)% in pre-exercise vs. post-exercise for the hypoxia group and an increase was observed in pre-exercise vs. recovery for both supplementation groups, and between post-exercise and for the three groups studied. There was an increase of salivary flow in post-exercise vs. recovery in Hypoxia + Carbohydrate group. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) decreased from baseline vs. post-exercise for Hypoxia + Glutamine group. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) increased from post-exercise vs. after recovery in Hypoxia + Carbohydrate group. Reduction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was observed from baseline vs. post-exercise and after recovery for the Hypoxia + Carbohydrate group a lower concentration was observed in pre-exercise vs. post-exercise and recovery. TNF-alpha had a reduction from baseline vs. post-exercise for both supplementation groups, and a lower secretion between baseline vs. recovery, and pre-exercise vs. post-exercise for Hypoxia + Carbohydrate group. Five hours of hypoxia and exercise did not change IgA. Carbohydrates, with greater efficiency than glutamine, induced anti-inflammatory responses.Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04032020 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biosci, BR-11015020 Santos, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04032020 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biosci, BR-11015020 Santos, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Monitoring levels of stress and overtraining in an elite brazilian female volleyball athlete : case study

Overtraining is the result of an imbalance between stress and recovery, in addition to short recovery time and psychosocial events. In this case study, a questionnaire of stress and recovery in sports was used to assess the level of overtraining of an elite female Brazilian volleyball player. The results showed that the heavy loads caused changes in the athlete's profile, resulting in an increase in the fatigue scales. The recovery periods were fundamental to restore her physical and psychological capacities. Finally, the method used detected changes in the athlete's profile after acute events, such as an unexpected defeat. We concluded that changes in the profile of the curve, showed by the instrument, reflected the different moments of the collection, thus reflecting the change in the stress overload. Therefore, the detection or monitoring of stressing factors might be valuable to improve the physical and psychological performance of a team

El ejercicio físico y la función cognitiva: una revisión

Exercise and physical training are known as promoters of several alterations, and among them, cardiorespiratory benefits, increase in the mineral bone density and decrease in the risk for chronic-degenerative diseases. Recently, another aspect has become notorious: an improvement in the cognitive function. Although it is very controversial, several studies have shown that physical exercises improve and protect the cerebral function, suggesting that physically active individuals present lower risk to develop mental disorders compared to sedentary individuals. This demonstrates that participating in physical exercise programs exerts benefits in the physical and psychological spheres, and it is probable that physically active individuals have a faster cognitive processing. Although the cognitive benefits of the physically active life-style seem to be related to the level of the regular physical activities, that is, exercises performed along the whole lifetime, suggesting a cognitive reserve, it is never too late to start a physical exercise program. Thus, using physical exercises as an alternative to achieve an improvement in the cognitive function seems to be a aim to be attained mainly due to its applicability, since it is a relatively less expensive method that can be used by the major part of the population. Thus, the purpose of the present review is to discuss the associative aspects between physical exercises and the cognitive function, thus allowing to reflect on its use as an alternative and supportive element.El ejercicio y la educación física así como los entrenamientos son conocidos porque promueven varios cambios en el cuerpo, incluso beneficia los efectos cardio-respiratorios, el aumento de la densidad mineral del hueso y la disminución del riesgo del enfermedades crónico-degenerativas. Más recientemente hay otro aspecto que ha obtenido fama reconocida sobre esos beneficios; se trata de la mejora en la función cognitiva. Aunque hay grandes controversias, varios estudios han estado demostrando que el ejercicio físico mejora y protege la función cerebral, mientras se hace una sugerencia que las personas se presentasen físicamente activas tendrán riesgo más pequeño sobre ataques por desórdenes mentales en relación al sedentario. Esto demonstra que la participación en programas de ejercicios tienen beneficios en las esferas física y psicológica, y que probablemente, los individuos físicamente activos tengan un procesamiento cognitivo más rápido. Aunque los beneficios cognitivos del estilo de vida fisicamente activo parecen relacionarse al nivel de actividades físicas regular, cumplido durante una vida, mientras podemos pensar que para una reserva cognitiva, nunca es tarde para empezar un programa de ejercicios físicos. De esta forma el uso del ejercicio físico como alternativa para mejorar la función cognitiva parece ser un objetivo a ser alcanzado, principalmente debido a la aplicabilidad del individuo por el logro personal-ademas de ser un método relativamente barato que la gran parte de la población tiene acceso. Así, el objetivo de la revisión presente es él de discutir los aspectos asociativos entre el ejercicio físico y la función cognitiva, permitiendo una consideración entre los que la usan como una alternativa y un elemento de apoyo.O exercício e o treinamento físico são conhecidos por promover diversas alterações, incluindo benefícios cardiorrespiratórios, aumento da densidade mineral óssea e diminuição do risco de doenças crônico-degenerativas. Recentemente outro aspecto tem ganhando notoriedade: trata-se da melhoria na função cognitiva. Embora haja grande controvérsia, diversos estudos têm demonstrado que o exercício físico melhora e protege a função cerebral, sugerindo que pessoas fisicamente ativas apresentam menor risco de serem acometidas por desordens mentais em relação às sedentárias. Isso mostra que a participação em programas de exercícios físicos exercem benefícios nas esferas física e psicológica e que, provavelmente, indivíduos fisicamente ativos possuem um processamento cognitivo mais rápido. Embora os benefícios cognitivos do estilo de vida fisicamente ativo pareçam estar relacionados ao nível de atividade física regular, ou seja, exercício realizado durante toda a vida, sugerindo uma reserva cognitiva, nunca é tarde para se iniciar um programa de exercícios físicos. Dessa forma, o uso do exercício físico como alternativa para melhorar a função cognitiva parece ser um objetivo a ser alcançado, principalmente em virtude da sua aplicabilidade, pois se trata de um método relativamente barato, que pode ser direcionado a grande parte da população. Assim, o objetivo da presente revisão é o de discutir os aspectos associativos entre exercício físico e função cognitiva, permitindo uma ponderação entre o seu uso enquanto alternativa e elemento coadjuvante.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) EPM Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP-EPM Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e ExercícioUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, EPM Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e ExercícioSciEL

Carbohydrate Supplementation Influences Serum Cytokines after Exercise under Hypoxic Conditions

Introduction: Exercise performed at the hypoxia equivalent of an altitude of 4200 m is associated with elevated inflammatory mediators and changes in the Th1/Th2 response. By contrast, supplementation with carbohydrates has an anti-inflammatory effect when exercise is performed under normoxic conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbohydrate supplementation on cytokines and cellular damage markers after exercise under hypoxic conditions at a simulated altitude of 4200 m. Methods: Seven adult male volunteers who exercised for 60 min at an intensity of 50% VO2Peak were randomly evaluated under three distinct conditionsnormoxia, hypoxia and hypoxia + carbohydrate supplementation. Blood samples were collected at rest, at the end of exercise and after 60 min of recovery. To evaluate hypoxia + carbohydrate supplementation, volunteers received a solution of 6% carbohydrate (maltodextrin) or a placebo (strawberry-flavored Crystal Light (R)Kraft Foods, Northfield, IL, USA) every 20 min during exercise and recovery. Statistical analyses comprised analysis of variance, with a one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey post hoc test with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, there was a significant increase in the concentration of IL-6 after exercise and after recovery compared to at rest (p < 0.05), while in the hypoxia + carbohydrate group, there was a significant increase in the concentration of IL-6 and TNF-alpha after exercise compared to at rest (p < 0.05). Furthermore, under this condition, TNF-alpha, IL-2 and the balance of IL-2/IL-4 were increased after recovery compared to at rest (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that carbohydrate supplementation modified the IL-6 and TNF-alpha serum concentrations and shifted the IL-2/IL-4 balance towards Th1 in response without glycemic, glutaminemia and cell damage effects.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Psicofarmacologia (AFIP)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04021001 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biosci, BR-11060001 Santos, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Phys Educ, BR-19060900 Presidente Prudente, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Physiol, BR-04021001 Sao Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, BrazilDepartment of Bioscience, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos 11060-001, BrazilDepartment of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, BrazilFAPESP: 2013/01324-4Web of Scienc

Can high altitude influence cytokines and sleep?

The number of persons who relocate to regions of high altitude for work, pleasure, sport, or residence increases every year. It is known that the reduced supply of oxygen (O-2) induced by acute or chronic increases in altitude stimulates the body to adapt to new metabolic challenges imposed by hypoxia. Sleep can suffer partial fragmentation because of the exposure to high altitudes, and these changes have been described as one of the responsible factors for the many consequences at high altitudes. We conducted a review of the literature during the period from 1987 to 2012. This work explored the relationships among inflammation, hypoxia and sleep in the period of adaptation and examined a novel mechanism that might explain the harmful effects of altitude on sleep, involving increased Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production from several tissues and cells, such as leukocytes and cells from skeletal muscle and brain.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilCEPE, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, Dept Biociencias, BR-11030400 Santos, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Ctr Estudos Psicobiol & Exercicio, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Judas Tadeu, Lab Movimento Humano, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, Inst Coracao InCor, Unidade Hipertensao, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, Dept Biociencias, BR-11030400 Santos, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Ctr Estudos Psicobiol & Exercicio, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Dietary whey protein lessens several risk factors for metabolic diseases: a review

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) have grown in prevalence around the world, and recently, related diseases have been considered epidemic. Given the high cost of treatment of obesity/DM-associated diseases, strategies such as dietary manipulation have been widely studied; among them, the whey protein diet has reached popularity because it has been suggested as a strategy for the prevention and treatment of obesity and DM in both humans and animals. Among its main actions, the following activities stand out: reduction of serum glucose in healthy individuals, impaired glucose tolerance in DM and obese patients; reduction in body weight; maintenance of muscle mass; increases in the release of anorectic hormones such as cholecystokinin, leptin, and glucagon like-peptide 1 (GLP-1); and a decrease in the orexigenic hormone ghrelin. Furthermore, studies have shown that whey protein can also lead to reductions in blood pressure, inflammation, and oxidative stress.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Univ Estadual Campinas UNICAMP, Dept Clin Med, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Fisiol & Biofis, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Extremo Catarinense, Lab Bioquim & Fisiol Exercicio, Criciuma, SC, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista UNESP, Dept Patol, Botucatu, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc