Effects of calcium pyruvate supplementation during training on body composition, exercise capacity, and metabolic responses to exercise.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effects of calcium pyruvate supplementation during training on body composition and metabolic responses to exercise. METHODS: Twenty-three untrained females were matched and assigned to ingest in a double blind and randomized manner either 5 g of calcium pyruvate (PYR) or a placebo (PL) twice daily for 30 d while participating in a supervised exercise program. Prior to and following supplementation, subjects had body composition determined via hydrodensiometry; performed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test; and performed a 45-min walk test at 70% of pre-training VO2 max in which fasting pre- and post exercise blood samples determined. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between groups in energy intake or training volume. Univariate repeated measures ANOVA revealed that subjects in the PYR group gained less weight (PL 1.2 +/- 0.3, PYR 0.3 +/- 0.3 kg, P = 0.04), lost more fat (PL 1.1 +/- 0.5; PYR -0.4 +/- 0.5 kg, P = 0.03), and tended to lose a greater percentage of body fat (PL 1.0 +/- 0.7; PYR -0.65 +/- 0.6%, P = 0.07), with no differences observed in fat-free mass (PL 0.1 +/- 0.5; PYR 0.7 +/- 0.3 kg, P = 0.29). However, these changes were not significant when body composition data were analyzed by MANOVA (P = 0.16). There was some evidence that PYR may negate some of the beneficial effects of exercise on HDL values. No significant differences were observed between groups in maximal exercise responses or metabolic responses to submaximal walking. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that PYR supplementation during training does not significantly affect body composition or exercise performance and may negatively affect some blood lipid levels.

Effects of coleus forskohlii supplementation on body composition and hematological profiles in mildly overweight women.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of Coleus Forskohlii (CF) on body composition, and determined the safety and efficacy of supplementation. METHODS: In a double blind and randomized manner, 23 females supplemented their diet with ForsLeantrade mark (250 mg of 10% CF extract, (n = 7) or a placebo [P] (n = 12) two times per day for 12-wks. Body composition (DEXA), body weight, and psychometric instruments were obtained at 0, 4, 8 & 12 weeks of supplementation. Fasting blood samples and dietary records (4-d) were obtained at 0 and 12-wks. Side effects were recorded on a weekly basis. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and are presented as mean changes from baseline for the CF and placebo groups, respectively. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in caloric or macronutrient intake. CF tended to mitigate gains in body mass (-0.7 +/- 1.8, 1.0 +/- 2.5 kg, p = 0.10) and scanned mass (-0.2 +/- 1.3, 1.7 +/- 2.9 kg, p = 0.08) with no significant differences in fat mass (-0.2 +/- 0.7, 1.1 +/- 2.3 kg, p = 0.16), fat free mass (-0.1 +/- 1.3, 0.6 +/- 1.2 kg, p = 0.21), or body fat (-0.2 +/- 1.0, 0.4 +/- 1.4%, p = 0.40). Subjects in the CF group tended to report less fatigue (p = 0.07), hunger (p = 0.02), and fullness (p = 0.04). No clinically significant interactions were seen in metabolic markers, blood lipids, muscle and liver enzymes, electrolytes, red cells, white cells, hormones (insulin, TSH, T3, and T4), heart rate, blood pressure, or weekly reports of side effects. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that CF does not appear to promote weight loss but may help mitigate weight gain in overweight females with apparently no clinically significant side effects.

Low vs. high glycemic index carbohydrate gel ingestion during simulated 64-km cycling time trial performance.

We examined the effect of low and high glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate (CHO) feedings during a simulated 64-km cycling time trial (TT) in nine subjects ([mean +/- SEM], age = 30 +/- 1 years; weight = 77.0 +/- 2.6 kg). Each rider completed three randomized, double blind, counter-balanced, crossover rides, where riders ingested 15 g of low GI (honey; GI = 35) and high GI (dextrose; GI = 100) CHO every 16 km. Our results showed no differences between groups for the time to complete the entire TT (honey = 128 minutes, 42 seconds +/- 3.6 minutes; dextrose = 128 minutes, 18 seconds +/- 3.8 minutes; placebo = 131 minutes, 18 seconds +/- 3.9 minutes). However, an analysis of total time alone may not portray an accurate picture of TT performance under CHO-supplemented conditions. For example, when the CHO data were collapsed, the CHO condition (128 minutes, 30 seconds) proved faster than placebo condition (131 minutes, 18 seconds; p < 0.02). Furthermore, examining the percent differences and 95% confidence intervals (CI) shows the two CHO conditions to be generally faster, as the majority of the CI lies in the positive range: placebo vs. dextrose (2.36% [95% CI; -0.69, 4.64]) and honey (1.98% [95% CI; -0.30, 5.02]). Dextrose vs. honey was 0.39% (95% CI; -3.39, 4.15). Within treatment analysis also showed that subjects generated more watts (W) over the last 16 km vs. preceding segments for dextrose (p < 0.002) and honey (p < 0.0004) treatments. When the final 16-km W was expressed as a percentage of pretest maximal W, the dextrose treatment was greater than placebo (p < 0.05). A strong trend was noted for the honey condition (p < 0.06), despite no differences in heart rate (HR) or rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Our results show a trend for improvement in time and wattage over the last 16 km of a 64-km simulated TT regardless of glycemic index.