european college of sport science

Thursday, June 25th, 2009
biosynthesis of nitric oxide who serves as a messenger to trigger blood vessel dilation and increase blood flow. However, only little
information on its real efficacy is available from controlled studies.
Purpose: We evaluated the effects of prolonged supplementation of L-arginine on 35m performance time (t35m), anaerobic capacity (AC)
and leg knee extensors (PE) and flexors (PF) maximal power and explosive leg strength (ELS) using a double blind placebo-controlled trial.
Methods: Sixteen healthy sprint and endurance trained subjects nine male and seven female (27.5±8.1 years) performed: the running
anaerobic speed test (RAST), knee extensors and flexors maximal power test and a vertical jump to evaluate leg explosive strength before
and after intake of L-arginine (3 grams per day) or placebo for a period of three weeks.
Results: After intake of L-arginine mean ±sd (5.26±0.36 v 5.11±0.29, arginine group AG) 35m-performance time (t35) improved (decreased)
2.85% (p0.05) after arginine supplementation (10.61±3.78 v 9.4±3.74) compared with PG values
(11.5±5.56 v 10.15±5.89). No significant differences were also observed between groups in body composition, PE, PF or ELS.
Conclusions: L-arginine supplementation appears to influence positively sprinting ability but did not influence body composition, anaerobic
capacity and leg power and strength measures.
EFFECTS OF WHEY PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION WITH AND WITHOUT BETA-HYDROXY-BETA-METHYLBUTYRATE
ON FAT FREE MASS AND MUSCLE STRENGTH AFTER A 12-WEEK RESISTANCE TRAINING
STAHN, A., TERBLANCHE, E.
CENTER OF SPACE MEDICINE, CHARITÉ CAMPUS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Introduction: Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) has been reported to have anti-catabolic effects, thus enhancing gains in both
muscle strength and lean tissue mass during resistance training. It is less clear, however, whether HMB promotes additional benefits
when combined with a sufficient protein and carbohydrate supplementation. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate
the independent effects of HMB and a protein-carbohydrate diet on fat free mass (FFM) and muscle strength after periodized 12-week
whole-body resistance training.
Methods: With institutional ethics approval 16 healthy, young men (Age mean 22.1, SD = 1.6) with less than six months weight training
experience were randomly assigned in a double blind fashion to either a control group or treatment group with no significant mean
differences in FFM and 1-repetition maximums (1RM). In addition to 40 g of carbohydrates which were administered orally immediately
following the termination of each exercise bout, both groups ingested 30 g of whey protein in the morning on nontraining days and one
hour before and after each training, respectively. Additionally, the treatment group received 1 g of HMB, whereas the control group obtained
a placebo three times daily. After a 2-week familiarization period subjects trained 4 times per week using an upper/lower body
split routine employing exercises of 3 to 4 sets at an intensity that varied between 10RM and 6RM. Outcome measures included wholebody
FFM determined by skinfold measurements, upper arm and thigh muscle cross-sectional area determined by magnetic resonance
imaging and muscle strength determined by bench press and leg press.
Results and Discussion: Repeated multivariate analysis of variance (time × group) indicated a significant main effect for time (P < 0.001,
eta2 = 0.951), but not for group (P = 0.970, effect size eta2=0.021). These results were confirmed by a lack of a significant interaction
between time and group (P = 0.502, eta2=0.186). Univariate main effects for time showed that irrespectively of the group all, outcome
measures significantly increased from pre to post (P < 0.001, eta2= 0.575 to 0.939). These findings suggest that in young healthy subjects
HMB supplementation in combination with a sufficient protein-carbohydrate diet is not superior to a protein-carbohydrate diet alone.
THE EFFECTS OF A NUCLEOTIDE SUPPLEMENT (INMUNACTIVE) ON LYMPHOCITE PROLIFERATION AFTER INTENSIVE
EXERCISE
CASAJÚS, J., MARTÍNEZ-PUIG, D., SÁNCHEZ, D., AGUILÓ, J., ANEL, A., LOU, J., CHETRIT, C.
BIOIBERICA S.A.
(1) Bioiberica S.A. Barcelona
(2) Dpto. De Bioquímica y Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de Zaragoza. Zaragoza (Spain)
(3) Dpto. Farmacología y Fisiología. FCCSYD Universidad de Zaragoza. Huesca (Spain)
(4) Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería. FCCSYD Universidad de Zaragoza. Huesca (Spain)
It has been described that intensive exercise is followed by a period of immune impairment (decreased lymphocyte proliferation and
levels of salivary immunoglobulin A) during which there is an “open window” opportunity for pathogens (Petersen and Pedersen, 2002). It
has been also demonstrated that dietary nucleotide supplementation is crucial to maintain immune function during stress situations (Gil,
2002). The aim of the present study was to test the impact of a specific nucleotide formulation (Inmunactive, Bioiberica, Spain) on the
immune function of athletes after severe physical stress. A total of 20 athletes were recruited in a randomized double blind placebo
controlled trial and distributed on 2 groups (N=10) supplemented with placebo (group C) or Inmunactive (group I) at 600mg/d during a
period of 32 days. On day 0 and on day 32 each subject undertook an exhaustion exercise test using a cycloergometer at 70-80%
%VO2max during at least 1h. Before and 24h after the exercise test, blood samples were taken to analyze lymphocyte proliferation of
total, CD4+ and CD8+ subsets. 24h after the first exercise test, a decrease on lymphocyte proliferation was detected for both groups on
total (-14.23±4.47 vs -11.52±4.93 % for groups C and I respectively; P>0.05), CD4+ (-6.60±5.68 vs -14.01±9.92; P>0.05) and CD8+ (-
21.37±9.90 vs -24.60±14.08; P>0.05) cell subsets. At the end of the trial, after 32 days receiving the experimental product, lymphocyte
proliferation 24h after the exercise test decreased on the placebo group but not in the supplemented group, in total (-3.64±4.50 vs
12.88±7.11 % for groups C and I respectively; P=0.073), CD4+ (-7.69±3.63 vs 15.26±5.74; P0.05). These results suggest that a specific nucleotide supplement given chronically may counteract the immune impairment associated
to the severe physical stress.
References
Petersen WE and Pedersen BK (2002) Exercise and immune function – effect of nutrition. In: Calder PC, Fielf CJ and Gill HS (eds) Nutrition
and Immune Function, CABI Publishing, New York, 347-355.
Gil A (2002) Modulation of the immune response mediated by dietary nucleotides. Eur J Clin Nutr. Suppl 3:S1-4.
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