Recent research suggests that amino acids, such as leucine and isoleucine, can improve glucose tolerance in vivo and in vitro animal models by accelerating glucose uptake in peripheral tissues and stimulate glycogen synthesis in vitro in the absence of insulin. Our laboratory recently found that gavaging normal Sprague-Dawley rats with an amino acid mixture, composed of isoleucine, leucine, cystine, methionine, and valine, improved blood glucose response during an oral glucose challenge without an increase in the plasma insulin response. The blood glucose-lowering effect of the amino acid mixture was due to an increase in skeletal muscle glucose uptake. These results suggest that this amino acid supplement acutely improves muscle insulin sensitivity and blood glucose homeostasis. However, the effect of this amino acid mixture on glucose tolerance and muscle glycogen synthesis in humans has not been investigated. Some studies have also shown that daily supplementation or acute ingestion of amino acids may prevent muscle damage that occurs as a result of a prolonged, intense endurance exercise or strength training and therefore improves force production and exercise performance. However, the effects of the addition of an amino acid mixture to carbohydrate supplement on muscle damage after a prolonged endurance exercise, as well as on the subsequent anaerobic exercise performance, have not been characterized. Therefore, in this series of two studies, the effects of an amino acid mixture, composed of isoleucine, leucine, cyctine, methionine, and valine, on glucose tolerance, muscle glycogen resynthesis, muscle damage, and anaerobic exercise performance were investigated. Study 1 demonstrated that our amino acid mixture lowered the glucose response to an OGTT in healthy overweight/obese subjects in an insulin-independent manner. Study 2 demonstrated that both high and low dosages of amino acid mixture were effective in lowering blood glucose response to a carbohydrate bolus in athletes postexercise. High dosage of amino acid mixture was more potent in glucose regulation by providing a higher insulin response and amino acid effect. However, our amino acid mixture had no effects on post exercise muscle glycogen synthesis, exercise-induced muscle damage or subsequent anaerobic performance. Taken together, the results of this research series suggest that an amino acid mixture, composed of isoleucine and 4 additional amino acids, attenuates the glucose response to a glucose bolus in an insulin-independent manner, but does not enhance muscle glycogen restoration following exercise or prevent exercise-induced muscle damage. / text

The purpose of this study was to examine if the addition of protein to a carbohydrate supplement (CHO+PRO), provided during a simulated soccer match, would reduce fatigue and muscle glycogen utilization in comparison to an isocaloric carbohydrate only supplement (CHO). Two female and eight male (n = 10) trained soccer players performed a modified version of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) on two separate occasions, followed by a run to exhaustion (RTE). Supplements were provided 10 minutes before the simulated match and at the beginning of half-time, but not during exercise in order to create real-match conditions. Supplements were composed of 2.8% protein + 7% carbohydrate (CHO+PRO) or 9.8% carbohydrate (CHO). Muscle biopsies were performed before and at the end of the LIST, after which iv participants ran to exhaustion. No differences were found between treatments for RTE (489 ± 121 sec for CHO and 589 ± 186 sec for CHO+PRO) or glycogen utilization (37.9 ± 7.6 µmol•g wet wt-1 during the CHO and 29.1 ± 6.0 µmol•g wet wt-1 during the CHO+PRO). No differences were found for the other measurements such as sprint times, heart rate, RPE, blood glucose, lactate, and insulin. Blood Creatine kinase (CK), and overall muscle soreness were measured 24 hours after each trial in order to evaluate muscle damage but no differences between treatments were found. In accordance with these findings, the phosphorylation state of the protein FOXO3a was not altered differently by the treatments. These results suggest that the addition of protein to a traditional carbohydrate-only supplement provided immediately prior to and at the half of a simulated soccer match does not further improve the benefits of a CHO supplement. / text

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-207). Also available on the Internet.

Carbohydrate plus additional protein supplementation provided immediately after exercise has been found to increase the rate of muscle glycogen restoration compared to carbohydrate alone. To examine whether leucine, and/or β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) to carbohydrate plus protein supplementation affects short-term recovery (45 min) of muscle glycogen, we compared plasma glucose and insulin, the muscle glycogen concentration, and the cellular signaling proteins controlling muscle glycogen synthesis 45 min after supplementation. Rats (n=35) underwent high-intensity resistance exercise followed by supplementation with carbohydrate (CHO: 1.2g/kg body weight), carbohydrate with whey protein (CP: 1.2g CHO + 375mg whey protein/kg body weight), carbohydrate with whey protein plus HMB (CPH: 1.2g CHO + 375mg whey protein + 400mg HMB/kg body weight), carbohydrate with whey protein, HMB plus leucine (CPHL: 1.2g CHO + 375mg whey protein + 400mg HMB + 444mg leucine/kg body weight) or exercise only (CON). Blood samples were collected immediately after exercise and 45 min after supplementations. Muscle samples of plantaris were excised immediately and 45 min post-exercise. Plasma glucose was increased by CHO and CPH supplementation and reduced by CPHL at 45 min post-exercise. Plasma insulin was elevated by CP and CPHL treatments compare to CHO. Muscle glycogen concentration was unaffected by all treatments and did not differ from CON. Phosphorylation of Akt/PKB, GSK3α/β, and GS at 45 min of recovery for all supplements was not significant difference from CON. Phosphorylation of mTOR was significantly increased by CPHL and CP supplementation compared to CON, CHO, and CPH. Phosphorylation of AS160 was markedly reduced by CPH supplementation compared to CON. These results suggest that supplementing with carbohydrate plus protein with or without leucine and its metabolite, HMB, to enhance muscle glycogen replenishment following exercise may not provide an advantage during the early phase of recovery (45 min). Furthermore, there is some indication that HMB may elicit insulin resistance, and this needs further evaluation. / text

Performance and exercise capacity in prolonged continuous exercise has been shown to be enhanced by the ingestion of dilute (-6%) carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO-E) solutions during exercise. There is a wealth of literature on the effects of CHO-E solutions on prolonged, continuous exercise however this is not the case for highintensity intermittent exercise. One reason for this is the difficulty of replicating the demands of multiple-sprint sports within the laboratory. The development of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Running Test (LIST), a protocol that simulates the physiological demand of multiple-sprint sports, has allowed for further study in this area. Sports drinks contain a variety of different types of carbohydrate, including synthetic polymers of maltodextrins. The rationale for these is two-fold; firstly there is some evidence to suggest that these glucose polymers of low osmolality may empty faster than isoenergetic glucose solutions especially at dilute (-6%) concentrations. Secondly CHO-E solutions formulated from maltodextrins with low dextrose equivalents are less acidogenic and have lower cariogenic potential than simple glucose solutions, thus making them preferable for tooth health. Therefore the purpose of this thesis was to examine the effects of a 6.4% hypotonic synthetic polymer maltodextrin CHO-E solution on muscle metabolism and physiological performance during prolonged high-intensity intermittent running (LIST). This thesis contains four experimental studies. From the results of study 1 it was concluded that the ingestion of a 6.4% hypotonic CHO-E solution provided no ergogenic benefit to running capacity during the LIST despite blood and hormonal data suggesting that the solution was effective at delivering glucose. As isotonic CHO-E solutions have shown to have ergogenic properties during LIST running the purpose of study 2 was to compare isoenergetic hypotonic and isotonic CHO-E solutions during LIST running. The results from this study suggested that performance, as measured by exercise capacity and sprint speed, was not affected by either treatment. In study 3 the protocol was modified to extend the exercise duration so that a greater demand was placed on the subjects' glycogen reserves. The results from this study further confirmed that exercise capacity in LIST running was not influenced by CHO provision during exercise however the habitual CHO intake of the subjects may have masked any ergogenic properties of the CHO-E solution and led to increased performance in the control trials. In the final study the subjects' pre-trial exercise and dietary CHO intake was manipulated to increase endogenous glycogen concentrations. The results showed that in these subjects the ingestion of a 6.4% hypotonic CHO-E solution increased exercise capacity during the LIST by 21%. Muscle biopsy analyses revealed a lower net muscle glycogen utilisation in the CHO trial post-90 min (p=0.07). There is evidence in the literature to suggest that there is an ergogenic effect of CHO ingestion during the LIST. However the results presented in this thesis suggest that when endogenous glycogen stores are moderate the ingestion of a CHO-E solution may suppress lipid oxidation without a concomitant increase in CHO oxidation and thus LIST capacity is not enhanced. In contrast, when endogenous glycogen concentrations are elevated through dietary manipulation there is an ergogenic benefit from the ingestion of hypotonic CHO-E solutions during LIST exercise.

No description available.

The research presented in this thesis examined the issue of the compatibility of strength and endurance training within one training regime, termed concurrent training, in recreational cyclists. Various research designs used in the previous literature resulted in inconclusive findings. The overall aim of this thesis was therefore to examine, in three systematically designed studies, the effects of various components of concurrent training regimes on cycling efficiency and recovery, and to identify some of the mechanisms that may be responsible for the interference or impedance of strength and/or endurance adaptations.

Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease have a reduced capacity for exercise, the exact causes of which are poorly understood. This thesis investigated alternative testing procedures that aim to provide a more complete and precise description of the exercise capacities of these patients. Furthermore, the potential roles of gastrocnemius muscle fibre morphometry, capillary supply and glycogen stores in the exercise tolerance of PAD patients were studied. Study one aimed to determine the effect of test repetition on maximal exercise performance and test-to-test variability in PAD patients using an incremental treadmill walking test (T) (n=5), an incremental cycle test (C) (n=5), and incremental endurance (PF-endurance) and maximal strength (PF-strength) plantar flexion tests (n=5). Tests were conducted once per week for eight weeks. Performance was stable on the T (~530 s) and C (~500 s) tests across the eight weeks. Test-to-test variance on T decreased from 16%CV (CV: coefficient of variation) to 6%CV (p=.21,NS), and from ~8%CV to 2%CV on C (p<.05) over the eight week period. Variance of peak gas exchange variables tended to decrease with performance variance on both tests; however, other physiological variables, and the associated variance levels, were stable throughout the study. PF strength (635-712N) gradually increased over the initial 2-3 weeks (p<.05) which was accompanied by a reduction in variance from ~8%CV to ~3%CV (p<.05). Similarly, PF endurance increased over the first two weeks (~32,000 to 41500 N.s-1) while variance of this measure fell from ~21%CV to ~10%CV (p<.05) over the study duration. It is concluded that the implementation of familiarisation sessions leads to a reduction in whole body and local calf muscular performance variance in patients with PAD. Using a randomised crossover design, study two aimed to compare performance and the physiological and symptomatic responses between a T test and a C test in 16 patients with PAD. Peak exercise time on C (690 s) was greater than that on T (495 s); however the two were significantly correlated (n=16, r=.69, p<.05). Peak HR (120 bpm), VO2 (~1.22 l.min-1) and rate pressure product (~20') did not differ between the two tests, nor did the post exercise ankle pressure (T: 56; C: 61 mmHg). In two subjects with lower back pain during C, the ankle pressure of their "worst" limbs failed to fall by >10mmHg. Performance on both the T and C tests was closely related to the onset of leg symptoms; however the site of pain during C was much more variable than during T. Incremental cycle testing would overcome some of the limitations of treadmill testing (e.g. measurement of mechanical work), and it appears to be an acceptable alternative for measuring the exercise capacity and physiological exercise responses in known claudicants. Use of cycle ergometry for the diagnosis of PAD requires testing in the general population. Study three aimed to compare whole body (T test and C test) and local calf muscular (PF strength and endurance) exercise performance between 16 PAD patients (age: 63 ± 2; BMI: 25.9 ± 1.1) and 13 healthy, sedentary control (CON) subjects (age: 62 ± 1; BMI: 25.9 ± 0.4), and to describe relationships between the whole body and local calf muscular exercise capacities within the two groups. Furthermore, this study aimed to compare several histochemical characteristics of the medial gastrocnemius muscle fibres between PAD and CON, and to establish whether these factors were related to the exercise capacities of both groups. Maximal performance on T was 59% lower in the PAD group compared with the CON group, as was performance on C (50%), PF strength (25%), and PF endurance (58%). Compared with CON, PAD patients had a lower estimated calf muscle mass and a slight reduction (10%) in muscle fibre size (p=.14, NS). They also had a lower proportion of type I fibres (PAD: 49%; CON: 62%) that was offset by a greater proportion of type IIA fibres (PAD: 27%; CON: 16%), and a reduction in the capillary contacts per muscle fibre (PAD: 1.63; CON: 2.12) compared with CON. When expressed relative to fibre area there were no differences in capillarisation between PAD and CON; however this index was significantly related to resting and post exercise ABI in the PAD patients. There were no differences in the mixed muscle [glycogen], nor the optical density of glycogen in the individual fibres, between the two groups. PF endurance was poorly predictive of walking performance, and did not correlate with any of the morphological variables in both groups. Calf muscle mass correlated with PF strength (r=.59 - .62), and strength was correlated with T performance (r= .61 - .63) in both groups. In the PAD patients, T performance was correlated with the cross sectional area (n=12, r=.72, p<.05), capillary contacts (n=10, r=.81, p<.05) and glycogen density (n=9, r=.81, p<.05) of type I fibres. This study confirms that a reduction in calf strength, which appears to be mediated through muscle atrophy, plays some role in the reduced exercise capacity of claudicants. While both fibre area and capillary supply seem to be of relevance to the exercise capacity of PAD patients, these two factors are closely linked and further research is required to establish the determinants, and relative importance of both. An important, and possibly limiting role of carbohydrate oxidisation in PAD patients is supported by the strong relationship between type I glycogen stores and whole body exercise capacity.

The research presented in this thesis examined the issue of the compatibility of strength and endurance training within one training regime, termed concurrent training, in recreational cyclists. Various research designs used in the previous literature resulted in inconclusive findings. The overall aim of this thesis was therefore to examine, in three systematically designed studies, the effects of various components of concurrent training regimes on cycling efficiency and recovery, and to identify some of the mechanisms that may be responsible for the interference or impedance of strength and/or endurance adaptations.

Inledning: Uthållighetsträning definieras som den typ av träning där flertalet stora muskelgrupper används och är i behov av hjärt-kärlsystemets kapacitet för att transportera syre till musklerna. Att fasta innebär i de flesta studier att ingen typ av föda intas före träningspassen medan att inte fasta vanligtvis innebär att 90 minuter före ett träningspass intas en kolhydratrik måltid. Insulin är viktig i fett-, protein- och kolhydratmetabolismen samt i uppsamlingen av socker i blodet. Glykogen fungerar som en energireserv i skelettmusklerna. Fria fettsyror är viktiga för att ge energi till den cellulära metabolismen som ska kunna fortgå. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att ta reda på om kroppen påverkas på olika sätt av uthållighetsträning på fastande respektive icke-fastande mage vad gäller insulin, muskelglykogen samt fria fettsyror hos människor. Metod: Litteratursökning i OneSearch med sökorden training* AND fasted state där sex artiklar valdes ut. Cohen’s D användes för att ge studiernas resultat en effektstorlek. Konfidensintervall användes för att bestämma om studierna var statistiskt signifikanta. Resultat: Tre studier undersökte insulin där resultaten visade att samtliga grupper som inte fastade före träningspassen hade lägst koncentration av insulin i viloperioden efter eftertestet. Samtliga sex studier undersökte muskelglykogen där resultaten visade att koncentrationen av muskelglykogen var högst efter eftertestet i gruppen som fastade före träningspassen i fem av sex studier. Tre studier undersökte fria fettsyror där resultaten visade att koncentrationen av fria fettsyror var lägst i eftertestet i gruppen som fastade före träningspassen i två av tre studier. Diskussion: Träning i icke-fastat tillstånd leder till att glykogennivåerna sparas vilket i sin tur leder till att oxidationen av insulin ökar vilket resulterar i lägre koncentrationer av insulin efter eftertestet. Träning i fastat tillstånd resulterar i ökad koncentration av muskelglykogen till energiunderhåll samt högre nivåer av β-hydroxyacyl coenzym A dehydrogenas (β-HAD), citratsyntasaktiviteten (CS-aktiviteten) samt succinatdehydrogenasaktiviteten vilket leder till ökad muskulär oxidativ kapacitet. Intag av kolhydrater före ett träningspass leder till ökat glykogenbesparande vilket resulterar i lägre koncentrationer av muskelglykogen jämfört med icke-fastat tillstånd. Högre koncentration av muskelglykogen före förtestet leder till högre koncentrationer av muskelglykogen i eftertestet. Träning i fastat tillstånd resulterar i lägre koncentrationer av fria fettsyror på grund av ökad FATmax (den maximala hastigheten av fettförbränning), ökad maximal oxidativ enzymaktivitet, uppreglering av hormonkänsligt lipas (HSL), ökat proteinuttryck av fettsyra-translokas / CD36 (FAT / CD36) samt ökat membranbundet proteinbindande protein som leder till ökad fettförbränning. Koncentrationen av fria fettsyror höjdes även i en studie på grund av att insulinutsöndringen inte skulle sjunka för lågt i gruppen som fastade före träningspassen. Konklusion: Resultaten visade att i tre av tre studier var insulinkoncentrationen lägst efter eftertestet i gruppen som intog en kolhydratrik måltid före träningspassen. I fem av sex studier var koncentrationen av muskelglykogen högst efter eftertestet i gruppen som fastade före träningspassen. I två av tre studier var koncentrationen av fria fettsyror lägst efter eftertestet i gruppen som fastade före träningspassen. Dessa resultat ökar förståelsen av hur träning på fastande respektive icke-fastande mage påverkar kroppen med avseende på insulin, muskelglykogen samt fria fettsyror. Vidare forskning skulle kunna undersöka dessa tre fysiologiska markörer under sex månader för att se om resultaten blir desamma i dessa två grupper. / Introduction: Endurance training is defined as the type of exercise where most major muscle groups are used in need of the cardiovascular system’s ability to transport oxygen to the muscles. Fasting means in most studies that no type of food is taken before the workout while not fasting usually means that a carbohydrate meal is taken 90 minutes before a workout. Insulin is important in fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism as well as in the collection of sugar in the blood. Glycogen acts as an energy reserve in the skeletal muscles. Free fatty acids are important to provide energy for the cellular metabolism that can continue. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to find out if the body is affected in different ways by endurance training exerted in fasted respectively non-fasting state regarding insulin, muscle glycogen and free fatty acids in humans. Methods: Literature search in OneSearch with the words training* AND fasted state where six articles were selected. Cohen’s D was used to give the results of the studies an effect size. Confidence interval was used to determine if the studies were statistically significant. Results: Three studies investigated insulin, where the results showed that all groups that did not fast before the workouts had the lowest concentration of insulin during the rest period after the test. All six studies investigated muscle glycogen, where the results showed that the concentration of muscle glycogen was highest after post-test in the group that fasted before the workouts in five out of six studies. Three studies investigated free fatty acids where the results showed that the concentration of free fatty acids were lowest in the post-test in the group that fasted before the workouts in two of three studies. Discussion: Training in the non-fasting state causes the glycogen levels to be saved, which in turn leads to increased oxidation of insulin resulting in lower concentrations of insulin after the post-test. Training in the fasted state results in increased concentration of muscle glycogen for energy maintenance and higher levels of β-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (β-HAD), citrate synthase activity (CS activity) and succinate dehydrogenase activity, leading to increased muscular oxidative capacity. Intake of carbohydrates prior to a workout leads to increased glycogen saving, resulting in lower concentrations of muscle glycogen compared to non-fasted state. Higher concentration of muscle glycogen before the pretest leads to higher concentrations of muscle glycogen in the post-test. Training in fasted state results in lower concentrations of free fatty acids due to increased FATmax (maximum rate of fat burning), increased maximal oxidative enzyme activity, hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) upset, increased fatty acid translocase / CD36 protein expression (FAT / CD36) as well as increased membrane bound protein binding protein which leads to increased fat burning. The concentration of free fatty acids was also increased in a study due to the fact that insulin secretion should not fall too low in the group that fasted before the workouts. Conclusion: The results showed that in three out of three studies, the insulin concentration was lowest after the post-test in the group who took a carbohydrate meal before the workouts. In five out of six studies, the concentration of muscle glycogen was highest after the post-test in the group that fasted before the workouts. In two out of three studies, the concentration of free fatty acids was lowest after the post-test in the group that fasted before the workouts. These results increase the understanding of how exercise in the fasted state and non-fasted state affects the body with regard to insulin, muscle glycogen and free fatty acids. Further research could investigate these three physiological markers for six months to see if the results are the same in these two groups.