Acute melatonin administration enhances aerobic tolerance: an analysis of biochemical and hematological parameters

Aims: This study is aimed at testing the acute melatonin administration (oral; 6 mg) on aerobic tolerance at cycloergometer and analyzing the consequences on biochemical and hematological parameters. Methods: The maximal aerobic capacity intensity (iMAC) at cycloergometer of eleven male healthy men (24.18±3.92 years-old; 87.07±12.48 kg; 1.82±0.05 m; 26.18±3.63 kg/m2; and 16.28±5.77 % of fat) was individually determined and used to perform a time to exhaustion (tlim) trial of 30 minutes after melatonin or placebo administration. We observed 48-72h interval between tests, performed in a double-blind experiment design. In order to determine hematological and biochemical parameters we collected venous blood samples before and after tlim. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results The intensity and the lactatemia corresponding to the maximal aerobic capacity were 120.88±18.78 W and 3.32±1.03 mmol.L-1, respectively. The tlim with placebo (33.94±15.26 min, confidence interval = 24.92 - 42.95) was significantly lower than the tlim with melatonin (41.94±17.22 min; CI = 31.76 - 52.12; p = 0.03; 19.06%; effect size = 0.49). All of the 21 analyzed blood physiological variables resulted in no significant variation after tlim when placebo was compared to melatonin, except for total sera cholesterol (lower after exercise with melatonin). Conclusion: Acute melatonin administration enhanced aerobic tolerance at iMAC in 19% at cycloergometer; however, the biochemical and hematological variables assessed were not significantly modulated.(AU)

The effect of flutamide on the physical working capacity and activity of some of the key enzymes for the energy supply in adult rats / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of androgen receptor antagonists on the physical working capacity and activity of some of the key muscle enzymes for the energy supply in rats. Young adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. One group received 15 mg kg-1 of flutamide daily for 6 days a week and the other group served as control for 8 weeks. At the beginning and at the end of the experiment, all rats were subjected to submaximal running endurance (SRE), maximum time to exhaustion (MTE), and maximal sprinting speed (MSS) tests. At the end of the trial, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) test was performed and the levels of testosterone, erythrocytes, hemoglobin as well as enzyme activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and NAD.H2-cytochrome-c reductase (NAD.H2) of the gastrocnemius muscle were measured. Serum testosterone of the flutamide-treated rats was higher than that of the controls, which verifies the effectiveness of the dose chosen. MTE and SRE of the anti-androgen-treated group were lower compared with the initial values. Flutamide treatment decreased the activity of SDH and NAD.H2 compared with the controls. We found no effect of the anti-androgen treatment on MSS, VO2max, running economy, LDH activity, and hematological variables. Our findings indicate that the maintenance of the submaximal and maximal running endurance as well as the activity of some of the key enzymes associated with muscle oxidative capacity is connected with androgen effects mediated by androgen receptors.

Efeito da intensidade do exercício de corrida intermitente 30s: 15s no tempo de manutenção no ou próximo do VO2max / Effect of intensity of intermittent running exercise 30s: 15s at the time maintenance at or near VO2max

O presente estudo comparou o tempo mantido acima de 90% (t90VO2max) e de 95% VO2max (t95VO2max) em três diferentes intensidades de exercício. Após a realização de um teste incremental para determinar o VO2max, oito estudantes de educação física ativos (23 ± 3 anos) executaram três sessões de exercícios intermitentes (100, 110 e 120% da velocidade do VO2max (vVO2max)) com razão esforço:recuperação de 30s:15s. O t95VO2max foi significantemente maior em 110%vVO2max (EI110%) (218,1 ± 81,6 s) quando comparado a 100%vVO2max (EI100%) (91,9 ± 75,2s) e a 120%vVO2max (EI120%) (126,3 ± 29,4 s), porém sem diferença entre EI100% e EI120%. O t90VO2max somente apresentou diferença significante entre EI110% e EI120%. Portanto, conclui-se que durante exercício intermitente com razão 30s:15s, a intensidade de 110%vVO2max apresenta-se mais adequada para manter o VO2 próximo ou no VO2max por um tempo maior.

The present study compared the time maintained above 90% (t90VO2max) or 95% VO2max (t95VO2max) in three different exercise intensities. After performing an incremental test to determine VO2max, eight physical education active students (23 ± 3 years) performed three intermittent exercise sessions (100, 110 e 120% velocity of VO2max (vVO2max)) with ratio effort:recovery of 30s:15s. The t95%VO2max was significantly higher at 110%vVO2max (EI110%) (218.1 ± 81.6s) compared to 100% vVO2max (EI100%) (91.9 ± 75.2s) and 120%vVO2max (EI120%) (126.3 ± 29.4s), but without differences between EI100% and EI120%. The t90%vVO2max was significantly different only between EI110% and 120%. Therefore, we conclude that during intermittent exercise with ratio 30s:15s, the intensity of 110%vVO2max appears more appropriate to maintain VO2max for a longer time.

Analise temporal do efeito ergogênico da música assincrônica em exercício / Temporal analysis of the ergogenic effect of asynchronous music on exercise

Diversas pesquisas demonstram que a música motivacional assincrônica pode exercer efeito ergogênico em exercícios realizados em intensidade submáxima. Entretanto, não foram encontrados até o momento, estudos que tenham analisado a continuidade da motivação frente à exposição crônica a este fator. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a continuidade do efeito ergogênico da música assincrônica sobre o desempenho em corrida de longa duração (tempo limite para exaustão - Tlim) antes e depois de um período de quatro semanas de exposição à musica motivacional (saturação musical). Foram envolvidos vinte e quatro sujeitos suscetíveis à música motivacional foram randomicamente divididos em 2 grupos: controle (GC=12) e experimental (GE=12), sendo ambos submetidos a corrida de endurance por quatro semanas. O GE foi exposto durante as sessões de exercício à saturação musical. Antes e depois deste período foi mensurado o Tlim com e sem a utilização da música motivacional em ambos os grupos. Os resultados sugerem que o efeito ergogênico agudo da música motivacional assincrônica foi ratificado, não observando todavia continuidade deste efeito após o período de saturação. Pode concluir que apesar da música motivacional exercer agudamente efeito positivo sobre o desempenho em exercício de endurance, a exposição crônica por quatro semanas parece suprimir seu efeito ergogênico.

Several studies show that motivational asynchronous music can exert an ergogenic effect on submaximal intensity exercise. However, to date, no study has investigated whether motivation would continue after chronic exposure to this factor. The objective of this study was to examine the continuity of the ergogenic effect of asynchronous music on endurance running performance (time limit to exhaustion, Tlim) before and after a 4-week period of exposure to motivational music (musical saturation). Twenty-four subjects susceptible to motivational music were randomly divided into control (CG, n=12) and experimental (EG, n=12) groups. Both groups were subjected to endurance running for 4 weeks. Before and after this period, Tlim was measured with and without the use of motivational music in both groups. EG was exposed to musical saturation during the exercise sessions. The results confirmed the acute ergogenic effect of motivational asynchronous music; however, this effect did not continue after the saturation period. It can be concluded that, although motivational music exerts an acute positive effect on endurance exercise performance, a 4-week chronic exposure to this music appears to suppress its ergogenic effect.

Effect of carbohydrate availability on time to exhaustion in exercise performed at two different intensities

This study examined the effects of pre-exercise carbohydrate availability on the time to exhaustion for moderate and heavy exercise. Seven men participated in a randomized order in two diet and exercise regimens each lasting 3 days with a 1-week interval for washout. The tests were performed at 50 percent of the difference between the first (LT1) and second (LT2) lactate breakpoint for moderate exercise (below LT2) and at 25 percent of the difference between the maximal load and LT2 for heavy exercise (above LT2) until exhaustion. Forty-eight hours before each experimental session, subjects performed a 90-min cycling exercise followed by 5-min rest periods and a subsequent 1-min cycling bout at 125 percent VO2max/1-min rest periods until exhaustion to deplete muscle glycogen. A diet providing 10 percent (CHOlow) or 65 percent (CHOmod) energy as carbohydrates was consumed for 2 days until the day of the experimental test. In the exercise below LT2, time to exhaustion did not differ between the CHOmod and the CHOlow diets (57.22 ± 24.24 vs 57.16 ± 25.24 min). In the exercise above LT2, time to exhaustion decreased significantly from 23.16 ± 8.76 min on the CHOmod diet to 18.30 ± 5.86 min on the CHOlow diet (P < 0.05). The rate of carbohydrate oxidation, respiratory exchange ratio and blood lactate concentration were reduced for CHOlow only during exercise above LT2. These results suggest that muscle glycogen depletion followed by a period of a low carbohydrate diet impairs high-intensity exercise performance.