In the original version of this article, the legends to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 were inadvertently swapped. This has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the article.
(1) Introduction: Soccer players face high demand for training and games. To facilitate their performance, many studies have investigated ergogenic supplements that can assist in the recovery and ...performance of players. The aim of this research was to assess whether caffeine supplementation can help soccer players’ recovery and performance. (2) Methods: Professional players were given 210 mg of caffeine or placebo in seven games during the state championship, being offered placebo in three matches and caffeine in four matches, administered 30 min before the game, during the game, and after the game. Blood creatine kinase (CK) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured. Participants rated their perceived recuperation (RPR) and exertion (RPE) on scales developed by Laurent and Borg, respectively. The time that the player spent on the field was also evaluated. t-tests and Levene’s test were used to analyze the results. In addition to mean differences, variations in the results were also analyzed. (3) Results: No significant differences were found in CK, HRV, RPR, RPE, or minutes on the field when comparing caffeine supplementation with the placebo. (4) Conclusion: Caffeine supplementation throughout the championship appears to have had no ergogenic effect on athlete performance and recovery.
Carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion is an established nutritional strategy to improve endurance performance, yet currently available products may contribute to gastrointestinal (GI) distress. Potatoes have ...a high-glycemic index, indicating that their CHO content is readily available. We aimed to compare the effects of ingesting potato purée (POT), commercial CHO gel (GEL), or a control (water, CTL) during cycling on GI Symptoms and affective indices in trained athletes.
In a randomized crossover study, twelve trained cyclists (9 M and 3F; 30.5 ± 8.7y; 70.6 ± 7.6 kg; 1.70 ± 7 cm; 60.7 ± 8.9 mL/kg/min) completed a 2 h cycling challenge (60–85%VO2max) followed by a 6 kJ/kg time trial. Cyclists were randomly assigned to consume POT, GEL, or CTL during the challenge. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE), GI symptoms, and affective responses (Feeling Scale −5/+5) were collected throughout the challenge via visual analog scales. Differences between treatments were assessed by mixed model analysis of variance using time and condition as a fixed factor and subject as a random factor. All data represent mean ± standard deviation.
RPE was not different between POT, GEL, or CTL condition at the end of the cycling challenge (POT: 17 ± 1; GEL: 17 ± 1, CTL: 18 ± 1, P > 0.05). Higher GI symptoms (P < 0.01) were observed at the end of the challenge during POT condition (15 ± 3%) when compared to GEL (8 ± 3%) and CTL (7 ± 3%), with no significant difference in these symptoms prior to this time. FS response significantly increased (P = 0.04) during POT trial (2 ± 2) compared to GEL (0 ± 0.2) and CTL (0 ± 2) conditions at end of the challenge.
While POT ingestion resulted in greater GI distressed compared to CHO gel, cyclists perceived the exertion to be similar and even reported feeling more pleasant after POT ingestion in endurance exercise.
Alliance for Potato Research and Education.
Although red ginseng is one of the bestselling herbal medicines, little studies have evaluated and summarized the effects of red ginseng intake on human health using a systematic review.
We ...systematically searched for epidemiological studies from 1997 to 2018 regarding red ginseng intake and health in the PubMed, DBPIA, and EMBASE databases. A total of 41 related studies were qualitatively reviewed under the four functionalities of red ginseng: immunity enhancement, prevention of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, blood circulation and prevention of hypertension, and menopausal symptom relief.
We identified thirteen studies for immunity enhancement, ten prevention of metabolic syndrome and diabetes (reduced postprandial blood glucose levels), nine for blood circulation and prevention of hypertension, and five for menopausal symptom relief. Functional effects of red ginseng may be related to antioxidant effects via fermentation, although some studies have reported inconsistent effects such as insulin sensitivity.
Red ginseng may have potential health promoting effects based on this systematic review. Further meta-analysis study is needed to identify and evaluate whether these potential effects of red ginseng exist.
This study was supported by the Korea Ginseng Corp.
Our goal is to evaluate the current dietary offerings available for residents, survey how this food selection impacts their overall wellness, and measure any effect gained from broadening the current ...nutritional choices available.
An anonymous, paper survey about GME nutrition selection was distributed to residents during a dedicated wellness hour. The surveys were collected and analyzed as follows. The z-test for proportions was performed to determine the proportion of residents who answered yes or no to the resident lounge snack survey questionnaires. The first question was on snack satisfaction was a response on a scale of 1–10 and is presented as means with confidence interval. A chi-squared test was performed to see if there is a correlation between resident snack satisfaction and yes or no responses to survey questions on dietary restriction, limited choices, nutritional needs, sugar crash, patient advice, home food quality and nutritional for wellness. The last two questions were written responses and were tabulated and enumerated for responses falling into respective food categories.
All residents’ (100%) surveyed responded, “yes” to the nutritional wellness. While the “Yes” responses to home food quality, diet restriction, limited choices, and sugar crash were 8.3%, 20.8%, 25% and 58.3%, respectively. All residents surveyed (100%) responded “No” to the nutritional needs and patient advice. The mean snack satisfaction score was 4, 95% CI 3.32–4.68. Only home food quality was found to be significantly related to resident satisfaction (P < 0.05). The most popular response to the suggestion list for GME snacks were fruit (n = 6) and jerky (n = 5). The most popular response to the Do Not Need List for GME Snack Area were no response (n = 9), cookies (n = 6) and chips (n = 6).
Residents prefer healthy snacks such as fruit and do not want unhealthy snacks like cookies and chips. There is an association between resident’s snack satisfaction on the current snack choices and the home food quality.
n/a.
Energy drinks have been anecdotally associated with deleterious cardiovascular health outcomes. These drinks contain ingredients which could affect glycemic response to the carbohydrate content. The ...aim of this study was to determine if acute exercise would alter the glycemic and physiological response to the consumption of Monster Energy.
Following an overnight fast, human subjects (19.1 ± 1.4 years; 30 female; 5 male) were randomized to exercise on a stationary bike at 33% of their predicted VO2 max for 10 minutes with a five minute sitting rest after, or sitting (control) for 15 minutes prior to ingestion of Monster Energy. Blood glucose, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-minutes postprandially. Data is represented as LSM ± SE with significance analyzed using a t-test, or multiple comparison test (P < 0.05).
Blood glucose (mg/dL) for control at 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-minutes 91.5 ± 1.2, 133.7 ± 4.3, 96.3 ± 4.2, and 82.4 ± 1.8 mg/dL, respectively. For those receiving bike exercise prior to ingestion blood glucose was 92.2 ± 1.2, 126.6 ± 3.8, 92.5 ± 2.3, 84.0 ± 1.8 mg/dL. Within group significance in both groups was observed between 0 and 30, 30 and 60, and 60 and 90, for control only, there were no significant blood glucose differences observed between groups across time. Heart rate for control at 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-minutes was 78.0 ± 3.1, 78.2 ± 2.5, 78.6 ± 2.6, and 74.4 ± 1.9 respectively. For those receiving bike exercise prior to ingestion heart rate was 88.7 ± 3.71, 85.5 ± 2.7, 83.1 ± 2.3, and 80.3 ± 2.9, with significance between 0 and 90 minutes. Mean arterial blood pressure for control at 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-minutes was 86.8 ± 2.6, 89.2 ± 2.1, 89.2 ± 2.5, and 87.6 ± 2.6. For those receiving bike exercise prior to ingestion blood pressure was 90.6 ± 3.1, 88.98 ± 2.3, 88.2 ± 2.0, and 87.0 ± 2.9 with no significant differences.
Exercise probably does not alter the glycemic and physiological response to energy drinks.
WSU Biology Department.
Space flight diets include a 55/30/15 (carbohydrate/fat/protein) ratio. Yet recent long-term missions require astronauts to exercise several hours daily for up to seven days a week. We hypothesize a ...high protein diet (45/25/30) is more conducive to longer missions and their high volumes of exercise.
With a within-subjects design, participants (8 men, 8 women) adhered to each diet for 14 days. Isocaloric diets were prescribed based on subject’s resting metabolic rate, activity level and body composition. Compliance was monitored daily. Per subject, diet sequence was randomized to limit order effects. Immediately after each diet concluded subjects worked out on a gravity-independent device (Impulse Training Systems; Newnan, GA) while tethered to a metabolic cart. Workouts entailed four (unilateral knee extension, unilateral hip extension, unilateral standing row, bilateral arm pulldown) exercises, comprised of three 60-second sets separated by 60-second rests and done against 4.4 kg. Work volumes were measured from our device, as were pre-exercise respiratory quotients (RQ), and energy costs based on net O2 uptakes. Blood lactate concentrations (BLa-) were measured before and five minutes after workouts. Exercise and respiratory data were compared with 2(gender) × 2(diet) ANOVAs, with repeated measures for diet. BLa- were assessed with a 2(gender) × 2(time) × 2(diet) ANOVA, with repeated measures for time and diet.
Significant BLa- differences occurred for time (post > pre) and for RQ by diet (55/30/15 > 45/25/30). Trends for work differences occurred by gender (men > women) and diet (45/25/30 > 55/30/15).
Our preliminary results concur with those that show greater RQ values from diets higher in carbohydrates. With continued data collection it is of interest to note if inter-work differences reach statistical significance, with higher values produced by the high protein diet. If so, such a diet may be more efficacious as a countermeasure to the muscle atrophy, strength loss and performance decrements for in-flight operational tasks seen with longer missions.
Kentucky Space Grant Consortium.
The objective of this experiment was to determine the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) content in five different sport nutrition supplements compared to the amount claimed on the label.
To measure ...the BCAA content of five nutritional supplements, a leucine dehydrogenase enzyme assay was used. This enzyme catalyzes the reaction of turning the given BCAA (L-leucine, L-valine, and L-isoleucine), water, and NAD+ into their respective metabolite, NH3, NADH, and H+. Ultraviolet-visible light spectrophotometry (UV/Vis) was used at 340 nm to create a standard curve. This curve uses the Beer-Lambert Law to measure NADH concentration from absorbance. NADH is in a 1:1 ratio with each BCAA molecule thus relaying the content of the given sample. The assay is specific to the three BCAAs in their free form. Other amino acids, as well as BCAAs in oligopeptides, do not interfere with this experiment. Products including oligo- and polypeptides were not included for testing. The assay was performed for each product and ran against a known standard (≥98% L-leucine) for validation. Due to different supplements having different BCAA amounts per serving, % content of the claimed amount was measured.
Compared to the amount provided by the labels of each supplement, BCAA content was on average only 61% of the manufacturer claims when compared to ≥98% L-leucine. This shows that these BCAA supplements do not meet label claims for BCAA content (P < 0.01).
The five tested nutritional supplements contain significantly less branched-chain amino acid content than claimed on the label. This experiment can be expanded on in the future to test content of other BCAA containing supplements to determine how common underdosing is in the industry as a whole.
The author claims no funding sources.
Disordered eating (DE), although subclinical, increases the risk for clinical eating disorders and is prevalent in collegiate athletes. At the same time, athletes are often more aware of and ...therefore behave in ways that modify their body composition, as it can influence performance. Despite this understanding, relevant data is lacking and therefore research is needed to establish prevalence rates within specific collegiate sports, and to better understand the relationships between DE behaviors and body composition in student athletes. Therefore, the aims of this study were 1) to determine the prevalence of DE among collegiate athletes and 2) to determine the relationship between prevalence of DE behaviors and body composition.
NCAA Division 1 student athletes (n = 56) during the 2018–2019 academic year were recruited from various sports: football (n = 13), men’s soccer (n = 2), women’s soccer, (n = 13), women’s swimming (n = 12), women’s basketball (n = 12), track and field (n = 4), and gymnastics (n = 8). DE was assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) questionnaire, which classified athletes as either asymptomatic (EAT-26 < 20) or symptomatic (EAT-26 > 20). Height and weight were measured and % body fat, fat mass and lean mass were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Athlete ages ranged between 18–22 years, 71% (n = 40) identified as female, and their mean BMI was 25.4 kg/m2. No athletes met criteria to be classified as symptomatic for DE (EAT-26 range: 0 to 15). Female athletes had higher mean EAT-26 scores than males (5.6 ± 3.8 vs 2.9 ± 2.1, P = 0.008). Gymnastics had the highest mean EAT-26 score (7.3 ± 3.9) and football had the lowest (3.4 ± 3.5). Although there were no correlations between EAT-26 and % body fat (P = 0.345) or fat mass (P = 0.984), it was negatively correlated with lean mass (P = 0.038).
In contrast to current research, no athletes were at risk for disordered eating. Despite this, the fact that asymptomatic EAT-26 scores (which assesses prevalence of DE behavior) were still inversely correlated with lean mass, prompts a need for further research to clarify these interactions in collegiate athletes.
N/A.
This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of an herbal blend composed of Sphaeranthus indicus and Mangifera indica extracts to improve muscle health.
In a randomized, double-blind, ...placebo-controlled study, 40 male participants of 18–40 yrs age, were assigned to receive 650 mg of LI12542F6 (A) or Placebo (P) for 56 days. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in muscle strength, assessed by 1-RM Bench and Leg presses. Secondary endpoints included muscle endurance, time to exhaustion, muscle size, body composition and free testosterone. Safety was also assessed.
Significant (P < 0.0001) increases in change from baseline for strength (bench and leg presses and grip strength) were observed in the A vs. P group beginning at 14 d and continuing throughout the study. Muscle endurance and time to exhaustion were similarly increased by 14 d and continued for the remainder of the study. By day 56, the mid upper arm circumference was statistically increased in A vs. P (P < 0.05) in left and right arms.
Significant improvements in muscle endurance and strength were observed in resistance trained healthy men consuming LI12542F6 daily for 56 days. Further research will elucidate efficacy in other populations.
Laila Nutraceuticals.
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