Johanna K. Ihalainen

Effects of carbohydrate ingestion on acute leukocyte, cortisol, and interleukin-6 response in high-intensity long-distance running.

Abstract Ihalainen, JK, Vuorimaa, T, Puurtinen, R, Hämäläinen, I and Mero, AA. Effects of carbohydrate ingestion on acute leukocyte, cortisol, and interleukin-6 response in high-intensity long-distance running. J Strength Cond Res 28(10): 2786–2792, 2014—The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ingestion of fluids with different carbohydrate concentrations (0, 1.5, and 7%) on the acute immune stress responses after high-intensity long-distance running. Continuous 18- to 20-km run was performed at 75% of maximal oxygen uptake with carbohydrate supplementation (CHO7%, 7% carbohydrate solution) and low-carbohydrate supplementation (lowCHO1.5%, 1.5% carbohydrate solution) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PLA) controlled design. Seven recreational runners (4 men and 3 women) completed all 3 trials. Blood was collected at baseline (PRE) and immediately after the run (POST). The running task induced significant (p ⩽ 0.05) increases in leukocyte (white blood cells), neutrophil, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) counts in every trial. There was a significant (p ⩽ 0.05) increase in cortisol with PLA and lowCHO1.5% but not with CHO7%. Increase in total leukocyte and neutrophil concentration was significantly lower with CHO7% compared with PLA (p ⩽ 0.05). Postexercise IL-6 levels were significantly elevated when compared with baseline in all conditions (p ⩽ 0.05). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations did not differ significantly between trials. LowCHO1.5% sport drink did not significantly differ from PLA in measured variables, which indicated that the amount and rate of carbohydrate ingestion (15 g, 10 g·h−1) in low-carbohydrate sport drink was not enough to significantly protect from the stress induced by high-intensity long-distance running, whereas the ingestion of CHO7% (45 g·h−1) blunted the significant cortisol response and significantly decreased the leukocyte response.

Combined aerobic and resistance training decreases inflammation markers in healthy men

Our primary aim was to study the effects of 24 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training performed on the same day or on different days on inflammation markers. Physically active, healthy young men were randomly divided into three groups that performed: aerobic and resistance training consecutively in the same training session (SS) 2‐3 days wk−1 or on alternating days (AD) 4‐6 days wk−1 as well as control (C). The total training volume was matched in the training groups. The control group was asked to maintain their habitual physical activity and exercise level. Maximal leg press strength (1RM) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) were measured. Abdominal fat mass was estimated with dual‐energy absorptiometry (DXA). High‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP‐1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), and adipocytokines resistin, adiponectin, and leptin were analyzed from plasma samples. Training significantly reduced circulating hs‐CRP, leptin, and resistin in both training groups (P<.05), whereas MCP‐1 and TNF‐α decreased only in AD (P<.05). Significant correlations were observed between changes in abdominal fat mass and corresponding changes in MCP‐1, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin. Long‐term combined aerobic and resistance training reduced markers of subclinical inflammation in healthy young men. The results indicate that a higher frequency of individual exercise sessions might be more beneficial with respect to the anti‐inflammatory effects of physical activity. The decreases in inflammation markers seem to be related to decreases in abdominal fat mass.

Mucosal immunity and upper respiratory tract symptoms in recreational endurance runners

The present study investigated the effects of a 12-week endurance-training intervention on salivary proteins and upper respiratory tract symptoms (URS) in 25 young men. Saliva samples of 25 recreational male endurance runners (age 34.6 years, body mass index = 23.8 kg·m(-2), peak aerobic capacity = 47.2 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)) were collected before (PRE) and after (POST) the training intervention, in a fasting state, as well as both before and after a maximal incremental treadmill run. The training consisted of both continuous and interval training sessions, 4-6 times per week based on the polarized training approach. Participants filled in Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21 and were retrospectively divided into 2 groups according to whether they reported URS (URS group, n = 13) or not (HEALTHY group, n = 12). Basal salivary immunoglobulin A (sa-sIgA) levels were significantly higher (+70%, p < 0.05) in the HEALTHY group both at PRE and POST whereas no significant differences were observed in salivary immunoglobulin M, salivary immunoglobulin G, lysozyme, or salivary α-amylase activity (sAA). Sa-sIgA concentration at PRE significantly correlated with the number of sick-days (R = -0.755, p < 0.001) in all subjects. The incremental treadmill run acutely increased sAA significantly (p < 0.05) at PRE (200%) and POST (166%) in the HEALTHY group but not in the URS group. This study demonstrated that subjects, who experienced URS during the 12 weeks of progressive endurance training intervention, had significantly lower basal sa-sIgA levels both before and after the experimental endurance training period. In addition to sa-sIgA, acute sAA response to exercise might be a possible determinant of susceptibility to URS in endurance runners.

Effects of 12-Week Low or Moderate Dietary Acid Intake on Acid–Base Status and Kidney Function at Rest and during Submaximal Cycling

Prolonged effects of dietary acid intake on acid–base status and kidney function have not yet been studied in an intervention study in healthy subjects. Dietary acid load can be estimated by calculating the potential renal acid load (PRAL) of foods. Effects of low-PRAL and moderate-PRAL diets on acid–base status and kidney function were investigated during a 12-week exercise training period. Healthy, 20–50-year-old men (n = 21) and women (n = 25) participated in the study and were randomly divided into low-PRAL and moderate-PRAL groups. Before (PRE), mid-phase (MID) and after the intervention (POST), the subjects participated in measurement sessions, where a 12-h urine sample and fasting blood samples were collected, and a submaximal cycle ergometer test was performed. Net acid excretion was significantly lower after 12 weeks of the low-PRAL diet as compared to the moderate-PRAL diet, both in men and women. In low-PRAL females, capillary pH and bicarbonate were significantly higher at 75% of VO2max at POST as compared to PRE. Glomerular filtration rate decreased over the study period in moderate-PRAL men and women. The results of the present study suggest that an acidogenic diet and regularly training together may increase the acidic load of the body and start to impair the kidney function in recreationally active subjects.

Physiological adaptations to resistance training in rats selectively bred for low and high response to aerobic exercise training

What is the central question of this study? Can phenotypic traits associated with low response to one mode of training be extrapolated to other exercise‐inducible phenotypes? The present study investigated whether rats that are low responders to endurance training are also low responders to resistance training. What is the main finding and its importance? After resistance training, rats that are high responders to aerobic exercise training improved more in maximal strength compared with low‐responder rats. However, the greater gain in strength in high‐responder rats was not accompanied by muscle hypertrophy, suggesting that the responses observed could be mainly neural in origin.

Inflammation status of healthy young men: initial and specific responses to resistance training

Our primary aim was to study the effects of a 4-week preparatory resistance-training (RT) period followed by 12 weeks of 2 specific RT protocols (either hypertrophic-strength (HS) or strength-hypertrophy-power training) on inflammation markers and the possible relationship of the changes in abdominal fat and lean mass to the changes in inflammation status. A total of 82 healthy men were included in the study. Maximal concentric leg press strength (1-repetition maximum), total body lean mass, total body and abdominal fat mass, circulating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and selected adipocytokines (resistin, adiponectin, and leptin) concentrations were measured before and after 4 (wk4) and 16 weeks (wk16) of RT. After the initial phase of RT, on wk4, abdominal and total fat mass as well as plasma leptin concentrations were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), whereas muscle mass, IL-1ra, resistin, and MCP-1 concentrations were significantly increased (p < 0.05). During specialized training phase, at wk16, only HS led to further reduction in abdominal and total fat mass, resistin, and leptin (p < 0.05), whereas both training modes led to lower MCP-1 concentrations (p < 0.05). Abdominal fat mass and circulating leptin were reduced already after 4 weeks of RT. Simultaneously, circulating MCP-1 and resistin concentrations increased, possibly as markers of muscle adaptation and regeneration. The present findings also suggest that RT with hypertrophic focus is beneficial for further reductions in abdominal fat mass and to decrease circulating inflammatory markers.