Feb 26-27 2010 ISSN-AP Workshop, Phoenix AZ

ISSN-Athletes’ Performance: New Advances in Sports Nutrition and Performance Training
Feb 26-27, 2010; Athletes’ Performance Arizona
http://www.sportsnutritionsociety.org/pdf/events_ISSN_AP_workshop_2001002.pdf

Jose Antonio: Educator of the Year

At this year's 32nd annual NSCA conference, ISSN's CEO, Jose Antonio, PhD, CSCS, FNSCA was named Educator of the Year.

Dr. Antonio (on the left in this photo with Dr. Lee Brown) earned this honor for his contributions to teaching and the clinical application in the field of strength training and conditioning. In the words of Robert Jursnick, NSCA's Executive Director, "Jose's well-earned award and his contributions shape NSCA into what it is today."

If you missed this year's NSCA meeting, count on attending next year. I know podcasts, webinars and the like are the current trend for obtaining CEUs but, foregoing conferences means you miss out on networking and you miss out on meeting many people who are truly inspirations to this field.

The NSCA conference gives you access to the people who shape the field of strength and conditioning, those who conduct the research studies we base our programs on and the top trainers and strength coaches worldwide. It's truly an honor and a privilege to know both Jose and Lee Brown, learn from their experiences and listen to their ideas for the future.

Whey still best

This study was designed to compare the acute response of mixed muscle protein synthesis (MPS) to rapidly (i.e., whey hydrolysate and soy) and slowly (i.e., micellar casein) digested proteins both at rest and after resistance exercise. Three groups of healthy young men (n=6 per group) performed a bout of unilateral leg resistance exercise followed by the consumption of a drink containing an equivalent content of essential amino acids (10g) as either whey hydrolysate, micellar casein, or soy protein isolate. Mixed muscle protein synthesis (MPS) was determined by a primed constant infusion of L-[ring-(13)C6]phenylalanine. Ingestion of whey protein resulted in a larger increase in blood essential amino acid, branched-chain amino acid, and leucine concentrations than either casein or soy (P<0.05). Mixed MPS at rest (determined in the non-exercised leg) was higher with ingestion of faster proteins (whey=0.091+/-0.015, soy=0.078+/-0.014, casein=0.047+/-0.008 %(.)h(-1);); MPS after consumption of whey was ~93% greater than casein (P<0.01) and ~18% greater than soy (P=0.067). A similar result was observed after exercise (whey>soy>casein); MPS following whey consumption was ~122% greater than casein (P<0.01) and 31% greater than soy (P<0.05). MPS was also greater with soy consumption at rest (64%) and following resistance exercise (69%) compared to casein (both p<0.01). We conclude that the feeding-induced simulation of MPS in young men is greater after whey hydrolysate or soy protein consumption than casein both at rest and after resistance exercise; moreover, despite both being fast proteins whey hydrolysate stimulated MPS to a greater degree than soy after resistance exercise. These differences may be related to how quickly the proteins are digested (i.e., fast vs. slow) or possibly to small differences in leucine content of each protein. Key words: hypertrophy, muscle mass, weightlifting.

J Appl Physiol. 2009 Jul 9. [Epub ahead of print]
Ingestion of whey hydrolysate, casein, or soy protein isolate: effects on mixed muscle protein synthesis at rest and following resistance exercise in young men.
Tang JE, Moore DR, Kujbida GW, Tarnopolsky MA, Phillips SM.
McMaster University.

Higher Protein Diet for Athletes

The protein needs of athletes is a common point of disagreement among nutrition professionals. In response, many established researchers have investigated this question in controlled clinical trials. A summary of the evidence presented by the the National Diary Council (NDC) in a whey protein booklet highlights the importance of high-quality protein for exercisers, older people and individuals on a reduced-energy diet. The article references a recent position of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the Dietitians of Canada (DC) where exercise nutrition authorities agree that regular exercisers may benefit a protein intake that is up to two times greater than the American RDA (0.8g/kg or 0.36g/lb).

Skeletal muscle is degraded by both endurance and strength exercises. Intuitively, it seems that athletes of both kinds, for example runners and powerlifters, may need extra protein to compensate for the demands of exercise-- a lot of research supports this notion. After endurance or resistance training, the exerciser may require a protein intake that is up to two times the RDA value to maximize skeletal muscle mass and achieve peak performance. The following are the protein recommendations (in grams of protein per each lb or kg of body weight) that may be appropriate for different types of exercisers:

A recreational exerciser: 0.5-0.7 g/lb (1.1-1.54g/kg)

An endurance athlete: 0.5-0.8 g/lb (1.1-1.76g/kg)

A strength training athlete: 0.5-0.8 g/lb (1.1-1.76g/kg)

An athlete restricting calories: 0.8-0.9 g/lb (1.76g/kg-1.98g/kg)

For example, the RDA for a 180 pound strength-trained athletes is about 65g/day. A dietary protein intake of 65g/day may be acheived by eating about 8 oz of boneless/skinless chicken breast, for example. On the other hand, both endurance and strength athletes weighting about 180 lb (~82 kg) may require between 90g/day and 144g/day of daily protein. The 90g/day to 144g/day protein recommendation may be met by eating between 11 oz and 18 oz of chicken breast or about four to seven 1-oz scoops of whey protein. In order to maintain skeletal muscle, up to 0.9g of protein per pound of body weight may be beneficial for an athletic individual consuming a reduced-calorie diet. Given that gymnasts, rowers, wrestlers, bodybuilders, powerlifters often utilize lower-calorie meal plans, a higher protein diet may be valuable for these indivuals.

Though protein is recognized for its role in maintaining and repairing skeletal muscle tissue,some amino acids may also influence metabolic processes. For example, research performed by DK Layman and his colleagues demonstrates that the essential branched chain amino acid leucine, plentiful in whey protein, signals structural protein synthesis. Leucine appears to “turn on” the muscle-building machinery in the body, in addition fueling muscle during exercise and serving as a structural component of muscle.

The overall amount of protein is important, but the quality of dietary protein is also of consequence. High-quality or “complete” dietarty proteins are usually extracted from animal sources. Most vegetable proteins, like those coming from beans, grains and nuts, do not contain all of the needed parts and must be carefully “complemented” to be complete. Furthermore, plant proteins are generally low in signaling proteins, like leucine. If you are a vegetarian, soy is a good source of plant-based protein. Also, this chart is a helpful guide for meal-planning with the use of complementary proteins.

In conclusion, both competitive and recreational exercisers may benefit from dietary protein intake that is up to two times greater than the RDA. High quality dietary proteins include lean meat, low-fat dairy, polutry, eggs and whey powder.

Microencapsulated foods as a functional delivery vehicle for omega-3 fatty acids: a pilot study

It is well established that the ingestion of the omega-3 (N3) fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) positively benefit a variety of health indices. Despite these benefits the actual intake of fish derived N3 is relatively small in the United States. The primary aim of our study was to examine a technology capable of delivering omega-3 fatty acids in common foods via microencapsulation (MicroN3) in young, healthy, active participants who are at low risk for cardiovascular disease. Accordingly, we randomized 20 participants (25.4 +/- 6.2 y; 73.4 +/- 5.1 kg) to receive the double blind delivery of a placebo-matched breakfast meal (~2093 kJ) containing MicroN3 (450-550 mg EPA/DHA) during a 2-week pilot trial. Overall, we observed no differences in overall dietary macronutrient intake other than the N3 delivery during our treatment regimen. Post-test ANOVA analysis showed a significant elevation in mean (SE) plasma DHA (91.18 +/- 9.3 vs. 125.58 +/- 11.3 umol/L; P<0.05) and a reduction in triacylglycerols (89.89 +/- 12.8 vs. 80.78 +/- 10.4 mg/dL; P<0.05) accompanying the MicroN3 treatment that was significantly different from placebo (P < 0.05). In post study interviews, participants reported that the ingested food was well-tolerated, contained no fish taste, odor or gastrointestinal distress accompanying treatment. The use of MicroN3 foods provides a novel delivery system for the delivery of essential fatty acids. Our study demonstrates that MicroN3 foods promote the absorption of essential N3, demonstrate bioactivity within 2 weeks of ingestion and are well tolerated in young, active participants who are at low risk for cardiovascular disease.

White Tea extract induces lipolytic activity and inhibits adipogenesis in human subcutaneous (pre)-adipocytes.

Source: Nutr Metab (Lond). 2009 May 1;6(1):20. [Epub ahead of print]

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The dramatic increase in obesity-related diseases emphasizes the need to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying fat metabolism. To investigate how natural substances influence lipolysis and adipogenesis, we determined the effects of White Tea extract on cultured human subcutaneous preadipocytes and adipocytes. METHODS: For our in vitro studies we used a White Tea extract solution that contained polyphenols and methylxanthines. Utilizing cultured human preadipocytes we investigated White Tea extract solution-induced inhibition of triglyceride incorporation during adipogenesis and possible effects on cell viability. In vitro studies on human adipocytes were performed aiming to elucidate the efficacy of White Tea extract solution to stimulate lipolytic activity. To characterize White Tea extract solution-mediated effects on a molecular level, we analyzed gene expression of essential adipogenesis-related transcription factors by qRT-PCR and determined the expression of the transcription factor ADD1/SREBP-1c on the protein level utilizing immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS: Our data show that incubation of preadipocytes with White Tea extract solution significantly decreased triglyceride incorporation during adipogenesis in a dose- dependent manner (n = 10) without affecting cell viability (n = 10). These effects were, at least in part, mediated by EGCG (n = 10, 50 muM). In addition, White Tea extract solution also stimulated lipolytic activity in adipocytes (n = 7). Differentiating preadipocytes cultivated in the presence of 0.5% White Tea extract solution showed a decrease in PPARgamma, ADD1/SREBP-1c, C/EBPalpha and C/EBPdelta mRNA levels. Moreover, the expression of the transcription factor ADD1/SREBP-1c was not only decreased on the mRNA but also on the protein level. CONCLUSIONS: White Tea extract is a natural source that effectively inhibits adipogenesis and stimulates lipolysis-activity. Therefore, it can be utilized to modulate different levels of the adipocyte life cycle.

Cereal with milk is better than sugar-filled sports drinks

Posted originally here: http://www.examiner.com/x-10474-Newark-Mens-Health-Examiner~y2009m5d21-Eat-some-crunch-berries-before-the-gym

In college, I once watched a kid eat two hotdogs with ketchup and a bowl of Lucky Charms for dinner. I was in awe. But maybe the gross stoner was onto something.

Because new findings in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition claim eating a bowl of cereal and milk works better before a workout than sports drinks.

For the study, scientists had 12 trained cyclists, 8 male and 4 female, go through a typical exercise routine, a brief warm-up followed by two hours of peddling at a comfortable pace.

Researchers say a bowl of whole grain cereal and milk recharged muscles just as good as sports drinks, calling it a better option for amateur athletes than pricey drinks, but here’s the catch.

The study was sponsored by the General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition. Clearly, there is a not-so hidden agenda here. A lot like a recent resport by the Wrigley Science Institute, which claims chewing gum helps control appetite and weight-gain.

Now, if I’m feeling picky before Yoga I grab a banana. Not cereal. Then again, I’m lactose intolerant. So having milk then squatting would not be a good idea.

Citicoline enhances frontal lobe bioenergetics as measured by phosphorus

Published Dec 2008 in
NMR IN BIOMEDICINE

MM Silveri*1,2,3, J Dikan1, AJ Ross1,2,3, JE Jensen2,3, T Kamiya4, Y Kawada4, PF
Renshaw2,3, DA Yurgelun-Todd1,2,3
1Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory and 2Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital,
Belmont, MA, and 3Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston,
MA, USA; 4Healthcare Products Development Center, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co.,
Ltd., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JAPAN
ABSTRACT
Background: Citicoline supplementation has been used to ameliorate memory
disturbances in elderly and Alzheimer’s disease populations. The current study
used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to characterize the effects of
citicoline on high-energy phosphate metabolites and constituents of membrane
synthesis in the frontal lobe. Phosphorus (31P) metabolite data were acquired
using a three-dimensional chemical-shift imaging (3D-CSI) protocol at 4 Tesla
from sixteen healthy men and women (aged 47.3 ± 5.4 years) who orally selfadministered
500 mg or 2000 mg of Cognizin® Citicoline (Kyowa Hakko Kogyo
Co., Ltd., JAPAN) for six weeks. Individual 31P metabolites were quantified in the
frontal lobe (anterior cingulate cortex, ACC) and a comparison region (parietooccipital
cortex, POC). Significant increases in phosphocreatine (PCr, +7%), beta
nucleoside triphosphates (β-NTP; largely ATP in brain, +14%) and the ratio of PCr
to inorganic phosphate (Pi, +32%), as well as significant changes in membrane
phospholipids, were observed in the ACC after six weeks of citicoline treatment.
These treatment-related alterations in phosphorus metabolites were not only
regionally specific, but tended to be of greater magnitude in subjects who received
the lower dose. These data demonstrate that citicoline improves frontal lobe
bioenergetics and alters phospholipid membrane turnover. Citicoline
supplementation may therefore help mitigate cognitive declines associated with
aging by increasing energy reserves and utilization, as well as increasing the
amount of essential phospholipid membrane components needed to synthesize
and maintain cell membranes.

Dr. Yurgelun-Todd will present this data June 16th, 2009 at the ISSN meeting in New Orleans.

The effects of creatine ethyl ester supplementation combined with heavy resistance training on body composition, muscle performance, and serum and mus

Mike Spillane1 , Ryan Schoch4 , Matt Cooke1 , Travis Harvey5 , Mike Greenwood1 , Richard Kreider3 and Darryn S Willoughby1,2
1Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, Baylor University, Box 97313, Waco, TX 76798, USA
2Institute for Biomedical Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 87898, USA
3Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 78743, USA
4Interdepartmental Nutrition Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
5Department of Physical Education, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10096, USA
author email corresponding author email
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2009, 6:6doi:10.1186/1550-2783-6-6
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.jissn.com/content/6/1/6
Received:
29 December 2008
Accepted:
19 February 2009
Published:
19 February 2009
© 2009 Spillane et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Numerous creatine formulations have been developed primarily to maximize creatine absorption. Creatine ethyl ester is alleged to increase creatine bio-availability. This study examined how a seven-week supplementation regimen combined with resistance training affected body composition, muscle mass, muscle strength and power, serum and muscle creatine levels, and serum creatinine levels in 30 non-resistance-trained males. In a double-blind manner, participants were randomly assigned to a maltodextrose placebo (PLA), creatine monohydrate (CRT), or creatine ethyl ester (CEE) group. The supplements were orally ingested at a dose of 0.30 g/kg fat-free body mass (approximately 20 g/day) for five days followed by ingestion at 0.075 g/kg fat free mass (approximately 5 g/day) for 42 days. Results showed significantly higher serum creatine concentrations in PLA (p = 0.007) and CRT (p = 0.005) compared to CEE. Serum creatinine was greater in CEE compared to the PLA (p = 0.001) and CRT (p = 0.001) and increased at days 6, 27, and 48. Total muscle creatine content was significantly higher in CRT (p = 0.026) and CEE (p = 0.041) compared to PLA, with no differences between CRT and CEE. Significant changes over time were observed for body composition, body water, muscle strength and power variables, but no significant differences were observed between groups. In conclusion, when compared to creatine monohydrate, creatine ethyl ester was not as effective at increasing serum and muscle creatine levels or in improving body composition, muscle mass, strength, and power. Therefore, the improvements in these variables can most likely be attributed to the training protocol itself, rather than the supplementation regimen.

I guess I'll keep my creatine monohydrate...gotta love results!

MIxed Carbohydrate Sources and Endurance Performance.

Three studies- all conducted by Jeukendrup et all - all concerning whether mixed sources of carbs (specifically glucose + fructose) will increase endurance performance.
1) Superior endurance performance with ingestion of multiple transportable carbohydrates. Feb 0840(2):275-281, February 2008.
Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ingesting a glucose plus fructose drink compared with a glucose-only drink (both delivering carbohydrate at a rate of 1.8 g/min) and a water placebo on endurance performance.
Basically this study had the subjects exercise for 120 mins at 55% of Vo2 max while taking in either glucose only (G) or glucose and fructose (GF), and then complete a time trial and see which version spared more glucose. It was not clear whether the subjects were actually taking in the mixed carbs during the TT. The GF trial had the fastest time to completion on the TT and the following conclusion was reached:
Conclusion: Ingestion of GF led to an 8% improvement in cycling time-trial performance compared with ingestion of G.

2) Multiple transportable carbohydrates enhance gastric emptying and fluid delivery.
Nov 08.
This study looked at whether the mixed carbs would increase gastric emptying. This time the subjects cycled at 61% of VO2 max for 120 mins.
with the result that the GLU+FRU resulted in faster rates of gastric emptying and that GLU+FRU also attenuated the rise in heart rate that occurred in GLU and WATER and resulted in lower ratings of perceived exertion. There was a greater loss in body weight with GLU corrected for fluid intake. These data suggest that ingestion of a combined GLU+FRU solution increases GE and "fluid delivery" compared with a glucose only solution.

3) Exogenous CHO oxidation with glucose plus fructose intake during exercise.
Feb 09.
PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether combined ingestion of moderate amounts of glucose plus fructose would result in higher rates of exogenous CHO oxidation compared with an isocaloric amount of glucose alone.
METHODS: Seven endurance-trained male cyclists performed three experimental trials consisting of 150 min of cycling at 65% VO(2max). Subjects ingested a CHO solution providing glucose (GLU) at an average rate of 0.8 g min(-1), glucose (0.54 g min(-1)) plus fructose (0.26 g min(-1)) (GLU + FRU), or plain water (WAT) during exercise. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that ingesting moderate amounts of glucose plus fructose does not increase exogenous CHO oxidation above that of an isocaloric amount of glucose alone.

My take on all 3 studies: What good is it to test trained cyclists at 55% and 61% of VO2 max for Gastric emptying or depletion of exogenous carbohydrates? Who in the world races at this low an intensity???!!!($*&_&%_(Q#&%_$)#Q***@%#$@!! :) Huh? Who? Tell me?
As the good Dr. Bill Eisner says, at that low an intensity I could eat pizza and probably not get an upset stomach and may indeed have fairly good rates of GE! Given that there are tales of gastric distress with fructose intake and that other studies have shown that typical rates of GE are around 60g of CHO (any kind) , don't we need to see these studies done at intensities that mimic race conditions? Even an ultradistance athlete will be going at around 75%VO2max. Let's see this study done.
Thank you.

The effects of a nutritionally enriched coffee drink on repeated flying 40-yd sprint performance

Jon-Kyle Davis*, Matt Green, Matt Laurent, Nick Bacon and Whitney Thomas
Background:
A double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial was performed to evaluate the effects of a nutritionally enriched coffee (NEC) drink compared to decaffeinated coffee (DC) on repeated flying 40-yard sprint performance.
Methods:
Physically active male and female volunteers (n = 13) completed 24 × 50 yard sprints following NEC and DC (counterbalanced). Sprints were completed in 2 halves(12 sprints per half) with 2 minutes recovery between each sprint and a 10-minute recovery period between halves. Acute-RPE (A-RPE) (0–10 omni scale) was recorded after every sprint and Session RPE (S-RPE) was recorded 20 min after completing each trial. Blood lactate ([LA]) was recorded at baseline and following sprints, 6, 12, 18, and 24. Additionally, a fatigue index (FI) was calculated as a percentage difference between mean sprint time and fastest sprint time.
Results:
A 2 (trial) × 2 (treatment) repeated measures ANOVA revealed significantly (p = 0.03) faster (main effect) sprint time for NEC. Post-hoc analyses revealed significantly faster times (p ≤ 0.05) for sprints 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 17, while approaching significance at sprints 10 (p = 0.07) and 15 (p = 0.08). No main effect for A-RPE (p = 0.28) or [LA] (p = 0.15) was found. Results from a paired t-test revealed a significantly improved FI (p = 0.04) with NEC but no significant impact on S-RPE (p = 0.72).
Conclusion:
Results indicate that caffeine administered in a NEC drink can enhance repeated bouts of acute sprint performance possibly through delayed fatigue as evidenced in a dampened perceived exertion response (faster sprints with similar RPE).

My Take:
The findings of this study appear to give a reason for physically active males and females to consume nutritionally enriched coffee before any repeated bouts of sprints to enhance their performance by blunting their perception of fatigue. I don’t feel that regular gym goers who workout in the afternoon would be crazy about performance enhancing through coffee. However, this coffee could be beneficial for the morning rush gym rats. After reading this abstract I had a few questions. First would be could these results translate to elite athletes, I know for a fact that at Penn State when the football players come back from summer break they must run 15 40 yard dash all within .2 seconds of their best. If this nutritionally enhanced coffee could dull their perception of fatigue they might be able to pass this test easily. Also I am assuming that the participants consumed JavaFit coffee, how much coffee did the subjects consume? And how many mg of caffeine? Other than these questions it appears that this enhanced coffee may be very beneficial especially to gym goers early in the morning, one to offset fatigue and two psychologically ( I know I can’t function until I have my cup of coffee.)

Minerals and Sport Performance an overview

Minerals are very important for every athlete. They are part of muscle contraction, oxygen transport, help in nerve impulse conduction and acid-base balance of the blood, support a healthy immune system, have antioxidative properties…Which minerals are from outmost importance, which minerals have an ergogenic effect and does it make sense to supplement with minerals?
An athlete generally should try to achieve adequate mineral intake through their daily diet without extra supplementation in the first attempt. If an athlete is deficient in a mineral, supplementation might improve bodily function and therefore performance. The two most deficiencies in athletes are known to be calcium and iron.

Overview:

Calcium is stored in the skeletal system and helps in muscular contraction. Calcium need is increased in athletes, especially with high intensity training. Insufficient calcium intake will lead to decreased bone density. (Females more likely to develop calcium deficiency) Additional calcium intake if athlete is not deficient does not enhance performance.

Phosphorus helps in energy metabolism. Phosphate salt supplementation resulted in equivocal results in different study. Some studies reported a lower RPE and therefore a beneficial psychological effect of Phosphate supplementation before exercise.

Magnesium regulates muscle contraction, oxygen delivery and helps in protein synthesis. Studies have not shown improvements in performance with supplementation.

Iron is important for oxygen transport. Iron supplementation should improve performance in deficient individuals but will not have an effect in people with no deficiency. Iron losses include sweat losses, menstrual, gastrointestinal losses or myoglobin leakage. Iron supplementation has also proved to be beneficial for athletes training in altitude to stimulate EPO production.

Zinc deficiency is seen in individuals with a high carb, low protein diet. Constant fatigue, loss of body weight and decreased endurance performance are among symptoms of zinc deficiency. General supplementation is not recommended.

Chromium, an insulin cofactor, might have an ergogenic effect by facilitating BCAA transport into the muscle. In general studies have failed to show effects on sport performance with chromium supplementation.

Vanadium also helps to enhance insulin activity whereas the limited data available does not support an anabolic effect if individual is healthy.

Selenium supplementation has shown in some studies to enhance gluthatione peroxidase status in aerobic exercise. Whereas the studies failed to show improvements in performance.

Conclusion:

After reviewing minerals, there is no effidence of any mineral to enhance performance. If an athlete has a well balanced diet, he should be able to meet almost all of his mineral needs. Athletes who are deficient of a mineral might improve performance and bodily function with supplementation. As a female runner, I have constantly problems to keep my iron levels up. Supplementation has helped me to improve performance. But negatively, constant supplementation might have adverse effects. Therefore an athlete should research what foods contain the mineral he is in need of.

Resistance training with soy vs whey protein supplements in hyperlipidemic males

Carol A DeNysschen1 , Harold W Burton2 , Peter J Horvath2 , John J Leddy3 and Richard W Browne: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2009, 6:8doi:10.1186/1550-2783-6-8.

Abstract

Most individuals at risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) can reduce risk factors through diet and exercise before resorting to drug treatment. The effect of a combination of resistance training with vegetable-based (soy) versus animal-based (whey) protein supplementation on CVD risk reduction has received little study. The study's purpose was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of resistance exercise training with soy versus whey protein supplementation on strength gains, body composition and serum lipid changes in overweight, hyperlipidemic men.

The Berrones Analysis:

Although both types of protein, whey and soy, did not significantly affect strength or size gains, the importance of the study should not be negated. That is, resistance training is a beneficial mode of exercise that alters body composition, independent of protein supplementation. However, many studies have shown the enhanced effects of protein supplementation, namely the mixture of essential amino acids and simple sugars, on various parameters of fitness including size and strength. Thus, if one is overweight, high-lipidemic, and male, then step right up to the squat rack without your 5 lb bucket of whey, because sooner than later the cheeseburger in your arteries will plug up fifty years of healthy living.

Funny Business- Hydroxycut

Abstract

Aim: The efficacy of optimal doses of highly bioavailable (–)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) alone and in combination with niacin-bound chromium (NBC) and a standardized Gymnema sylvestre extract (GSE) on weight loss in moderately obese subjects was evaluated by monitoring changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), appetite, lipid profiles, serum leptin and excretion of urinary fat metabolites. HCA-SX has been shown to reduce appetite, inhibit fat synthesis and decrease body weight without stimulating the central nervous system. NBC has demonstrated its ability to maintain healthy insulin levels, while GSE has been shown to regulate weight loss and blood sugar levels.
Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human study was conducted in Elluru, India for 8 weeks in 60 moderately obese subjects (ages 21–50, BMI >26 kg/m2). Subjects were randomly divided into three groups. Group A was administered HCA-SX 4667 mg, group B was administered a combination of HCA-SX 4667 mg, NBC 4 mg and GSE 400 mg, while group C was given placebo daily in three equally divided doses 30–60 min before meals. All subjects received a 2000 kcal diet/day and participated in supervised walking.
Results: At the end of 8 weeks, body weight and BMI decreased by 5–6% in both groups A and B. Food intake, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides and serum leptin levels were significantly reduced in both groups, while high-density lipoprotein levels and excretion of urinary fat metabolites increased in both groups. A marginal or non-significant effect was observed in all parameters in group C.
Conclusion: The present study shows that optimal doses of HCA-SX and, to a greater degree, the combination of HCA-SX, NBC and GSE can serve as an effective and safe weight-loss formula that can facilitate a reduction in excess body weight and BMI, while promoting healthy blood lipid levels.

Reference

Preuss, H.G., Bagchi, D., Bagchi, M., Sanyasi Rao, C.V., & Satyanarayana, S. (2004). Effects of a natural extract of (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX plus niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract on weight loss. Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, 6, 171-180.

My Take

The most interesting thing about this paper is that the same research team published it in two different journals in the same year, using a slightly different title and subject group, which changed the stats but still produced the same results. This paper shows that HCA, NBC, and GSE together have the greatest effect on weight loss, more so than just taking the HCA alone. I looked up the amounts of these components in Hydroxycut and compared them to the amounts in the study. I found that it is very hard to tell exactly how much of each is actually in the product because it is not clearly listed on the label. It seems that the amounts in the product are almost equal to those researched. However, although positive gains were seen, studies still need to be done on Hydroxycut as a whole to claim that it works.

Efficacy and safety of a popular thermogenic drink after 28 days of ingestion.

Roberts, M. D., Dalbo, V. J., Hassell, S. E., Stout, J. R., & Kerksick, C. M. Efficacy and safety of a popular thermogenic drink after 28 days of ingestion. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2008, 5:19


Abstract
Background: We have recently demonstrated that consuming a thermogenic drink (TD) acutely
increases energy expenditure and serum markers of lipolysis in healthy, college-aged individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine if consuming TD over 28 days affects its acute thermogenic and lipolytic effects as well as body composition and clinical chemistry safety markers.

Methods: Sixty healthy, males (mean ± SE; 23 ± 1 years, 177 ± 2 cm, 81.7 ± 2.1 kg, 22.8 ± 1.4%
body fat; n = 30) and females (23 ± 1 years, 166 ± 2 cm, 62.1 ± 1.8 kg, 28.3 ± 1.4% body fat; n =
30) reported to the laboratory on day 0 (T1) for determination of body composition, resting
energy expenditure (REE) as well as glycerol and free fatty acid (FFA) levels before and after
ingesting either 336 ml of TD or a non-caloric, non-caffeinated placebo (PLA) drink. Following day 0, participants supplemented daily with 336 ml·day-1 of either TD or PLA and repeated identical testing procedures on day 28 (T2). Day 28 area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated for REE, FFA, and glycerol. Day 28 acute data and prolonged AUC comparisons between groups were analyzed using ANOVAs with repeated measures.

Results: Percent body fat (p = 0.02) and fat mass (p = 0.01) decreased in the TD group compared to the PLA group after 28 days. Day 28 FFA AUC values (p = 0.048) were greater in the TD group compared to the PLA group. There was no significant difference in day 28 REE AUC values (p = 0.30) or glycerol AUC values (p = 0.21), although a significant increase in REE values in the PLA group may have confounded these findings. There were no differences between groups concerning blood and clinical safety markers.

Conclusion: Within-group elevations in FFA and REE values in the TD group were still evident
following a 28-day supplementation period which may contribute to the observed decrements in
%BF. Further, prolonged TD supplementation did not alter the assessed clinical safety markers.
Future studies should examine the synergistic and independent effects of the active ingredients in addition to effects of longer ingestion periods of TD ingestion with or without exercise at
promoting and sustaining changes in body composition.


When I read articles with results like this two things come to my mind. 1) "Awesome, you can actually lose weight and look better with out doing much work!" 2) "Crap, now my clients are going to see this and think that this is all they have to do!" Which in turn leads to less money for me and the economy is bad enough man.

What concerns me the most here is that just like the article referenced these findings should be carefully considered as the present study only spanned 28 days and did not invoke dietary or exercise intervention. So we have no way of knowing if the TD did the work or if their diets and exercise manipulated the body's metabolism in order to get the results. Of course there are arguments against this by comparing pre post RBC's triglycerides etc, etc, but in essence we still don't know the external factors.

Another thing is that the media centers so much attention around aesthetics of a person's body and society has bought into it so hard that no body wants to exercise to be "more healthy" they all exercise to get that "perfect body." With these results you are telling people that they can throw out exercising ans still lose fat mass! These implications could possibly cause a huge catastrophic morbididty rate to increase over the years because if you simply lose fat mass without exercising you may not see the physiological benefits that result from consistent exercise such as increaesed RBC's, stronger cardiovascular system (heart), increased bone mineral density, muscle hypertrophy, etc, etc. This means that your body's ability to deliver oxygen to your muscles, pump blood easily, and prevent osteoporosis has not been improved. So can someone tell me why we would not want to exercise? I have the answer, because it is easier just to take a magic pill (drink) and see results. Its sad that we have been brainwashed into caring more about how we look now instead of the longevity of our health down the road. I wish it were easier for people to understand but just because you don't see or feel anything happening does not mean that your body is not getting healthier!!

I appreciate this article though because maybe by combining the drink WITH exercise and proper nutrition we as exercise physiologists and strength coaches can continue to promote longevity while our clients/athletes still SEE results and therefore will still be doing our part in making the world and its inhabitants a healthier place to live.

International Society of Sports Nutrition 6th Annual Conference and Expo

Register now! Go to www.theissn.org for more information!

GPLC improves performance!

An interesting study which shows that Glycine propionyl-L-carnitine produces enhanced anaerobic work capacity with reduced lactate accumulation in resistance trained males. http://www.jissn.com/content/6/1/9/abstract

The effect of glucosamine and/or chondroitin sulfate on the progression of knee osteoarthritis

Sawitzke AD, Shi H, Finco MF, Dunlop DD, Bingham CO 3rd, Harris CL, Singer NG, Bradley JD, Silver D, Jackson CG, Lane NE, Oddis CV, Wolfe F, Lisse J, Furst DE, Reda DJ, Moskowitz RW, Williams HJ, Clegg DO.

University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. allen.sawitzke@hsc.utah.edu

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee causes significant morbidity and current medical treatment is limited to symptom relief, while therapies able to slow structural damage remain elusive. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (CS), alone or in combination, as well as celecoxib and placebo on progressive loss of joint space width (JSW) in patients with knee OA. METHODS: A 24-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted at 9 sites in the United States as part of the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), enrolled 572 patients with knee OA who satisfied radiographic criteria (Kellgren/Lawrence [K/L] grade 2 or grade 3 changes and JSW of at least 2 mm at baseline). Patients with primarily lateral compartment narrowing at any time point were excluded. Patients who had been randomized to 1 of the 5 groups in the GAIT continued to receive glucosamine 500 mg 3 times daily, CS 400 mg 3 times daily, the combination of glucosamine and CS, celecoxib 200 mg daily, or placebo over 24 months. The minimum medial tibiofemoral JSW was measured at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. The primary outcome measure was the mean change in JSW from baseline. RESULTS: The mean JSW loss at 2 years in knees with OA in the placebo group, adjusted for design and clinical factors, was 0.166 mm. No statistically significant difference in mean JSW loss was observed in any treatment group compared with the placebo group. Treatment effects on K/L grade 2 knees, but not on K/L grade 3 knees, showed a trend toward improvement relative to the placebo group. The power of the study was diminished by the limited sample size, variance of JSW measurement, and a smaller than expected loss in JSW. CONCLUSION: At 2 years, no treatment achieved a predefined threshold of clinically important difference in JSW loss as compared with placebo. However, knees with K/L grade 2 radiographic OA appeared to have the greatest potential for modification by these treatments.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT...

I have been using a glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM supplement on & off now for a few years. It seems like whenever I am on it, I have no pains in my joints at all. But when I am on it for a while and begin to think I don't need it anymore, I stop consumption, and soon enough, joint pains arise. So I am unsure whether or not it is by chance that I get joint injuries when I am off joint supplements. I have done a lot of research on this subject matter, and all of the research data is equivocal. But there are a few recent studies I noticed saying that joint supplementation is ineffective, like the article posted above. So maybe they should conduct a study testing for different markers than previously used. In conclusion, I will most likely continue to use my joint supplements at low dose, simply because of its sulfur content, as sulfur seems to have quite a few health benefits.

Posted by Kevin L. Jones

The effect of exhaustion exercise on thyroid hormones and testosterone levels of elite athletes receiving oral zinc.

Kilic M, Baltaci AK, Gunay M, Gökbel H, Okudan N, Cicioglu I.

School of Physical Education and Sports, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey. kmkilic@yahoo.com.tr

OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to investigate how exhaustion exercise affects thyroid hormones and testosterone levels in elite athletes who are supplemented with oral zinc sulfate for 4 weeks. 

METHODS: The study included 10 male wrestlers, who had been licensed wrestlers for at least 6 years. Mean age of the wrestlers who volunteered in the study was 18.70 +/- 2.4 years. All subjects were supplemented with oral zinc sulfate (3 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks in addition to their normal diet. Thyroid hormone and testosterone levels of all subjects were determined as resting and exhaustion before and after zinc supplementation. 

RESULTS: Resting TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4 and TSH levels of subjects were higher than the parameters measured after exhaustion exercise before zinc supplementation (p<0.05).>

CONCLUSION: Findings of our study demonstrate that exhaustion exercise led to a significant inhibition of both thyroid hormones and testosterone concentrations, but that 4-week zinc supplementation prevented this inhibition in wrestlers. In conclusion, physiological doses of zinc administration may benefit performance.

MY TAKE:  This is a two year old study but I was interested in researching Zinc because it is believed to be important is many things from preventing premature aging of the skin, helping the healing processes, reducing duration and severity of cold symptoms, to prostate function.  ZMA is commonly taken in hopes of increasing testosterone and sleep but this study used only 3g/day of zinc sulfate and showed that it improved thyroid hormones and testosterone concentrations which are important to all people but especially athletes and those who train.

Plant based dietary supplement increases urinary pH

John M Berardi¹, Alan C Logan² and A Venket Rao³

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2008, 5:20doi:10.1186/1550-2783-5-20

Abstract

Background

Research has demonstrated that the net acid load of the typical Western diet has the potential to influence many aspects of human health, including osteoporosis risk/progression; obesity; cardiovascular disease risk/progression; and overall well-being. As urinary pH provides a reliable surrogate measure for dietary acid load, this study examined whether a plant-based dietary supplement, one marketed to increase alkalinity, impacts urinary pH as advertised.

Methods

Using pH test strips, the urinary pH of 34 healthy men and women (33.9 +/- 1.57 y, 79.3 +/- 3.1 kg) was measured for seven days to establish a baseline urinary pH without supplementation. After this initial baseline period, urinary pH was measured for an additional 14 days while participants ingested the plant-based nutritional supplement. At the end of the investigation, pH values at baseline and during the treatment period were compared to determine the efficacy of the supplement.

Results

Mean urinary pH statistically increased (p = 0.03) with the plant-based dietary supplement. Mean urinary pH was 6.07 +/- 0.04 during the baseline period and increased to 6.21 +/- 0.03 during the first week of treatment and to 6.27 +/- 0.06 during the second week of treatment.

Conclusion

Supplementation with a plant-based dietary product for at least seven days increases urinary pH, potentially increasing the alkalinity of the body.

MY TAKE:  Acidosis can not only destroy bone integrity and other health aspects but it can worsen your recovery and performance from exercise (which produces a metabolic acidosis).  Maintaining a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruit can improve body composition and performance.  So even while strongmen and heavy weight powerlifters scoff at fruits and veggies because they need extra calories, they could actually be hurting themselves in doing so.  And they might actually need way more because they eat so much.  A plant-based supplement could be an easy alternative to consuming Fs & Vs all day long to enhancing gains in athletes and normal active people alike.  Although, it should not be their sole form and can not necessarily be substituted for whole fresh veggies and fruits.