Changes in red blood cell parameters during incremental exercise in highly trained athletes of different sport specializations.

Background: During physical exercise, the level of hematological parameters change depending on the intensity and duration of exercise and the individual's physical fitness. Research results, based on samples taken before and after exercise, suggest that hematological parameters increase during incremental exercise. However, there is no data confirming this beyond any doubt. This study examined how red blood cell (RBC) parameters change during the same standard physical exertion in athletes representing different physiological training profiles determined by sport discipline. Methods: The study included 39 highly trained male members of national teams: 13 futsal players, 12 sprinters, and 14 triathletes. We used multiple blood sampling to determine RBC, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit value (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) before, during (every 3 min), and after (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 min) an incremental treadmill exercise test until exhaustion. Results: There were no significant exercise-induced differences in RBC parameters between athletic groups. No significant changes were recorded in RBC parameters during the low-intensity phase of exercise. RBC, Hb, and Hct increased significantly during incremental physical exercise, and rapidly returned to resting values upon test termination. Conclusions: The general pattern of exercise-induced changes in RBC parameters is universal regardless of the athlete's physiological profile. The changes in RBC parameters are proportional to the intensity of exercise during the progressive test. The increase in hemoglobin concentration associated with the intensity of exercise is most likely an adaptation to the greater demand of tissues, mainly skeletal muscles, for oxygen.

Sports Participation Promotes Beneficial Adaptations in the Erythrocyte Guanylate Nucleotide Pool in Male Athletes Aged 20-90 Years.

Introduction: The guanine nucleotide pool (GTP, guanosine-5'-triphosphate; GDP, guanosine-5'-diphosphate, and GMP, guanosine-5'-monophosphate) is an essential energy donor in various biological processes (eg protein synthesis and gluconeogenesis) and secures several vital regulatory functions in the human body. The study aimed to predict the trends of age-related changes in erythrocyte guanine nucleotides and examine whether competitive sport and related physical training promote beneficial adaptations in erythrocyte guanylate concentrations. Methods: The study included 86 elite endurance runners (EN) aged 20-81 years, 58 sprint-trained athletes (SP) aged 21-90 years, and 62 untrained individuals (CO) aged 20-68 years. Results: The concentration of erythrocyte GTP and total guanine nucleotides (TGN) were highest in the SP group, lower in the EN group, and lowest in the CO group. Both athletic groups had higher guanylate energy charge (GEC) values than the CO group (p = 0.012). Concentrations of GTP, TGN, and GEC value significantly decreased, while GDP and GMP concentrations progressively increased with age. Conclusion: Such a profile of change suggests a deterioration of the GTP-related regulatory function in older individuals. Our study explicitly shows that lifelong sports participation, especially of sprint-oriented nature, allows for maintaining a higher erythrocyte guanylate pool concentration, supporting cells' energy metabolism, regulatory and transcription properties, and thus more efficient overall body functioning.

Pro-Healthy Diet Properties and Its Determinants among Aging Masters Athletes.

Qualitative dietary assessments are not common in aging athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate diet quality and its determinants among aging masters athletes. Eighty-six participants of the 8th World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships were enrolled in the study (age range 36-65 years). Three subgroups were distinguished to represent countries with different eating habits. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance. Eating habits and diet quality were assessed using the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire (KomPAN®, Warszawa, Poland), and the Pro-healthy Diet Index (pHDI-10). Dietary quality determinants were identified by a multiple regression model conducted for each subgroup separately (Great Britain, France, and Poland). The results showed that none of the subgroups adhered to the reference intake of products with beneficial health outcomes. This was particularly noticeable in the insufficient consumption of whole grain products, dairy, and fish. The fish and vegetables consumption frequency significantly differentiated the eating habits of the studied groups. Diet quality determinants varied depending on the group. However, in each of them, fruit consumption was one of the components of a good-quality diet. The obtained results can be used by institutions providing health education among the elderly to develop an appropriate strategy aimed at changing inappropriate eating habits.

The Effect of Sports Rules Amendments on Exercise Intensity during Taekwondo-Specific Workouts.

We aimed to compare the change in exercise response to taekwondo-specific circuit workouts before and after competition rule amendments. A total of 240 workouts in 15 elite athletes were analyzed over two years. Physiological and kinematic data were gathered with the wireless Bioharness system along with capillary blood samples for lactate concentration. Progressive exercise tests until exhaustion were periodically performed to obtain reference data. The rule changes resulted in significant increases (mainly medium or large effects) in the physiological (2.9-14.4%) and kinematic (4.8-10.1%) response to taekwondo-specific workouts. The largest increases were for peak breathing rate (12.0%), energy expenditure (6.6%), blood lactate immediately after exercise (10.2%) and at the 30th min of recovery (14.4%), and peak kinematic activity (10.1%). Significant differences between taekwondo-specific workouts and tournament combats persisted after the shift from old to new rules, ranging from 2.4 to 38.5% for physiological and from 2.9 to 15.5% for kinematic variables. The largest workout-combat differences were revealed for post-exercise (15.9%) and recovery (38.5%) blood lactate, peak (-15.8%) and relative (-15.0%) breathing rate, and mechanical (13.5%) and physiological (14.2%) intensity. Our study suggests that the rule amendments significantly modify the exercise response to discipline-specific workouts and that taekwondo-specific training sessions do not fully recreate the tournament demands in terms of physiological and kinematic load.

The Effect of Training on Erythrocyte Energy Status and Plasma Purine Metabolites in Athletes.

This study aimed to assess the changes in red blood cell (RBC) energy status and plasma purine metabolites concentration over a one-year training cycle in endurance-trained (EN; n = 11, 20‒26 years), and sprint-trained (SP; n = 11, 20-30 years) competitive athletes in comparison to recreationally-trained individuals (RE; n = 11, 20‒26 years). Somatic, physiological, and biochemical variables were measured in four training phases differing in exercise load profile: transition, general, specific, and competition. Significantly highest values of RBC adenylate energy charge (AEC; p ≤ 0.001), ATP-to-ADP and ADP-to-AMP ratios (p ≤ 0.05), and plasma levels of adenosine (Ado; p ≤ 0.05) were noted in the competition phase in the EN and SP, but not in the RE group. Significantly lowest plasma levels of adenosine diphosphate (ADP; p ≤ 0.05), adenosine monophosphate (AMP; p ≤ 0.001), inosine (Ino; p ≤ 0.001), and hypoxanthine (Hx; p ≤ 0.001) accompanied by higher erythrocyte hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) activity (p ≤ 0.001), were observed in the competition phase in both athletic groups. No significant alterations were found in the erythrocyte concentration of guanine nucleotides in any group. In conclusion, periodized training of competitive athletes' results in a favorable adaptation of RBC metabolism. The observed changes cover improved RBC energy status (increased AEC and ATP/ADP ratio) and reduced purine loss with more efficient erythrocyte purine pool recovery (increased HGPRT activity and plasma levels of Ado; decreased Hx and Ino concentration).

The Physical Activity Questionnaire for the Elderly (PAQE): A Polish Adaptation.

The aim of the study is to assess the reliability and validity of the Polish adaptation of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for the Elderly (PAQE-PL). One hundred and four older adults (75 women and 29 men) aged 65 to 89 (mean 72.2 ± 5.7 years) participated in the study. The test-retest procedure was used to evaluate the reliability of the PAQE-PL. Validity was assessed by comparing the results of the PAQE-PL with the measurements from an accelerometer (ActiGraph wGT3X+) and two questionnaires: the Polish version of the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS-PL) and the Polish version of the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS-PL). All test-retest interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were significant (ranged from 0.64 to 0.92). The long-term stability showed significant ICCs (ranged from 0.38 to 0.87) for all participants. In regard to validity, the obtained correlation coefficients were relatively low but statistically significant for all participants between the PAQE-PL scores and energy expenditure (r ranging from 0.25 to 0.26) measured by the accelerometer. The PAQE-PL correlated with almost all CHAMPS-PL indices, YPAS-PL energy expenditure, and total physical activity time. The results suggest that the adaptation of the PAQE-PL is an acceptable tool to estimate the physical activity level among older adults in the Polish population. We recommend the cautious and well-thought-out use of the PAQE-PL with a population of older women.

The Effect of Beta-Alanine versus Alkaline Agent Supplementation Combined with Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Creatine Malate in Highly-Trained Sprinters and Endurance Athletes: A Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Study.

The study aimed to verify the effect of intra- (beta-alanine-BA) versus extra- (alkaline agents-ALK) cellular buffering agent supplementation, combined with customarily used branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and creatine malate (TCM) treatment in natural training conditions. Thirty-one elite athletes (11 sprinters and 20 endurance athletes) participated in the study. Eight-week randomized double-blind, crossover, combined supplementation with BA-ALKplaBCAA&TCM and ALK-BAplaBCAA&TCM was implemented. In the course of the experiment, body composition, aerobic capacity, and selected blood markers were assayed. After BA-ALKplaBCAA&TCM supplementation, total fat-free mass increased in sprinters (p = 0.009). No other differences were found in body composition, respiratory parameters, aerobic capacity, blood lactate concentration, and hematological indices after BA-ALKplaBCAA&TCM/ALK-BAplaBCAA&TCM supplementation. The maximum post-exercise blood ammonia (NH3) concentration decreased in both groups after BA-ALKplaBCAA&TCM supplementation (endurance, p = 0.002; sprint, p < 0.0001). Also, lower NH3 concentrations were observed in endurance athletes in the post-exercise recovery period. The results of our study indicate that combined BCAA, TCM, and BA supplementation is more effective than combined BCAA, TCM and ALK supplementation for an increase in fat-free mass and exercise adaptation, but not for aerobic capacity improvement. Besides, it seems that specific exercise stimuli and the training status are key factors affecting exercise performance, even in athletes using efficient supplementation.

Polish Adaptation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey: Measurement Properties.

The aim of this study was to assess the measurement properties of a Polish adaptation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS-PL). The Polish cultural adaptation of the YPAS was administered to a group of 104 people aged 65 to 89 years (mean age 72 ± 5). To assess the reliability of the YPAS-PL, a test-retest procedure was applied. Validity was assessed by comparing the results of the YPAS-PL with accelerometery (ActiGraph wGT3X+). The indicators based on the YPAS-PL activities checklist were characterized by high repeatability and had better reliability values than the YPAS-PL activity dimension indices (energy expenditure interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.81, total time physical activity ICC = 0.86). We noted a significant positive relationship between energy expenditure measured by an accelerometer and the YPAS-PL (r = 0.23). We can conclude that the YPAS-PL is an adequate tool for assessing energy expenditure related to physical activity in a Polish population of older adults. We also recommend the cautious and well thought-out use of the YPAS-PL activity dimension indices (summary, vigorous, leisurely walking, moving, standing, and sitting indexes).

Validity and Reliability of the Polish Adaptation of the CHAMPS Physical Activity Questionnaire.

The aim of the study was to investigate the reliability and construct validity of the Polish adaptation of the Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) physical activity questionnaire among the elderly. The sample included 104 volunteers, 75 women (age = 71.0 ± 5.0 years) and 29 men (age = 75.1 ± 6.6 years). To assess the reliability of the Polish version of the CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire, measurements were conducted by one-week test-retest. The construct validity of the CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire was evaluated using accelerometers. Criterion validation was verified by self-reported measurements (health self-assessment, life satisfaction, and wellbeing) and body composition analysis. Intraclass correlation coefficients of the one-week test-retest ranged from 0.79 to 0.85. Significant Pearson's correlations were found between caloric expenditure measured by accelerometer and CHAMPS caloric expenditure in all listed physical activities (r = 0.33) and caloric expenditure in at least moderate intensity physical activities (r = 0.37) of the CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire. Moderate and greater intensity physical activities of CHAMPS measure were significantly related to total bone mass, health self-assessment, life satisfaction as a whole, and personal wellbeing (r ranged from 0.26 to 0.34). The findings of the study allow us to conclude that the Polish version of the CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire has acceptable reliability and validity to assess physical activity of older adults.

Training-induced annual changes in red blood cell profile in highly-trained endurance and speed-power athletes.

BACKGROUND: An extensive body of literature exists on the effects of training on hematological parameters, but the previous studies have not reported how hematological parameters respond to changes in training loads within consecutive phases of the training cycle in highly-trained athletes in extremely different sport disciplines. The aim of this study was to identify changes in red blood cell (RBC) profile in response to training loads in consecutive phases of the annual training cycle in highly-trained sprinters (8 men, aged 24±3 years) and triathletes (6 men, aged 24±4 years) who competed at the national and international level. METHODS: Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), RBC, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and RBC distribution width (RDW) were determined in four characteristic training phases (transition, general subphase of the preparation phase, specific subphase of the preparation phase and competition phase). RESULTS: Our main findings are that: 1) Hb, MCH and MCHC in triathletes and MCV in both triathletes and sprinters changed significantly over the annual training cycle; 2) triathletes had significantly higher values than sprinters only in case of MCH and MCHC after the transition and general preparation phases but not after the competition phase when MCH and MCHC were higher in sprinters; and 3) in triathletes, Hb, MCH and MCHC substantially decreased after the competition phase, which was not observed in sprinters. The athletes maintained normal ranges of all hematological parameters in four characteristic training phases. CONCLUSIONS: Although highly-trained sprinters and triathletes do not significantly differ in their levels of most hematological parameters, these groups are characterized by different patterns of changes during the annual training cycle. Our results suggest that when interpreting the values of hematological parameters in speed-power and endurance athletes, a specific phase of the annual training cycle should be taken into account.